<![CDATA[ Creative Bloq ]]>

<![CDATA[ Creative Bloq ]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/tag/black-friday Fri, 11 Sep 2026 21:28:33 +0000 en <![CDATA[ iPhone Duo is coming, but these rival tried-and-tested foldable phones have up to $500 off ]]> The world's gone foldable phone crazy with the announcement of the iPhone Duo, but Apple is (as usual) rather late to the market. The likes of Samsung, Motorola and Honor have been making foldable phones for years – as they've been keen to point out on social media this week (Samsung actually makes the display for the new iPhone Duo).

Apple's iPhone Duo will start at $1,999. That's $100 cheaper than Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra at its list price, but right now this flagship foldable is reduced by $300 to $1,799 at Amazon, making it actually $200 cheaper than Apple's effort, which is coming next month.

Meanwhile, readers in the UK can save a massive $500 off the impressive Honor Magic V6, which is reduced from £1,999 to £1,499 at the Honor website.

Here's a summary of all of the best foldable phone deals going right now. If you want less screen time rather than more, you might want to consider one of these dumb phones instead.

US Foldable Phone deals

Samsung

Z Fold8 Ultra

Samsung's latest flagship foldable phone is a joy for multitasking thanks to its app continuity from front to internal displays. We recently gave it a five-star review, praising the superb image quality, powerful AI performance and excellent design.

Samsung

Z Flip8

This refined clamshell-style phone is a super compact foldable with a thin 6.1mm profile and weighing just 0.39lb. It has a 6.9-inch internal display, and an improved 4.1-inch cover screen with a less noticeable crease than its predecessors.

Samsung

Z Fold8

Compared to the flagship Ultra above, the standard Galaxy Z Fold8 has a shorter, wider, passport-style shape. It has a 5.5-inch cover screen and a 7.6-inch inner display (4:3 aspect ratio). It's lighter and slightly thicker.

UK foldable phone deals

Honor

Magic V6

When we reviewed the Honor Magic V6 earlier this year, we said it would set a tough bar for Apple to reach. we were impressed by its performance, display, camera and the useful case-stand included.

Samsung

Galaxy Flip 8

This refined clamshell-style phone is a super compact foldable with a thin 6.1mm profile and weighing just 180g. It has a 6.9-inch internal display, and an improved 4.1-inch cover screen with a less noticeable crease than its predecessors.

Motorola

Razr 70 Ultra

The Razr 70 Ultra is an excellent flip-style foldable phone with a gorgeous design, including sleek options for the back finishes, It has a large, highly functional cover screen, and solid battery life.

What are the best foldable phones and iPhone Duo alternatives?

The foldable phone market in 2026 is already pretty mature. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is the most polished all rounder, while Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold has the edge for software and AI, and challengers like Honor’s Magic V6 and Huawei’s Mate XT Ultimate are pushing design boundaries – the later being a tri‑fold spectacle (pictured).

The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra remains the benchmark with its wide book‑style design, refined hinge, deep ecosystem support and multi‑window multitasking. Google’s Pixel 10 Pro Fold undercuts Samsung slightly on price while offering the most advanced AI features and computational photography, though its hardware feels less premium.

The Honor Magic V6 is the thinnest foldable yet, with IP68/IP69 durability, but its $1,749 / £1,999 starting price and smaller ecosystem limit appeal. Huawei’s Mate XT Ultra opens to a massive 10.2‑inch screen, which looks impressive but isn't really the most practical design.

For clamshell fans, there's the Galaxy Z Flip8 and Motorola Razr Ultra. Samsung offers the most refined hinge, while Motorola packs standout battery life and charging. Xiaomi’s Mix Fold 4 and OnePlus’s Open 2 compete on price, with Xiaomi leaning on Leica‑tuned cameras.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/tech/phones-tablets/iphone-duo-is-coming-but-rival-tried-and-tested-foldable-phones-have-up-to-usd500-off cytxoE3VEtDMs6LW5Drhbc Fri, 11 Sep 2026 21:28:33 +0000 Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:35:46 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ Ad platform sparks brand romance with 100 love letter billboards ]]> In a world saturated with brands and advertisers, catching the attention of potential collaborators can be a tricky task. That's why self-service audio & outdoor media platform AdPower is shooting its shot in a big way.

Taking it old-school, the ad platform has composed 100 love letters to potential partners, launching its playful billboard ads nationwide in hopes of catching their attention. From Pilates studios to fashion brands, AdPower is spreading the love in an act of brand PDA, proving that grand gestures can have a big impact.

AdPower billboard campaign — (Image credit: AdPower)

Created in partnership with Stink Studios, the 'Love Letters' campaign features personalised billboards filled with cheeky references to the recipient. For example, footcare specialists Margaret Dabbs' custom ad reads, “I know this is a long shot. I don’t have any feet and that’s what you’re all about. But let me tell you, this relationship has legs,” while food brand SushiDog got the more playful "Wrap me in seaweed, and let’s spread the word.”

The billboards will be placed close to the brand’s offices or stores in order to grab the attention of the businesses. With a simple yet attention-grabbing design, each ad features a typewriter font for a romantic, handcrafted feel. Equal parts silly and attention-stealing, the campaign is a wonderful display of clever copy and design at play.

“We love the symmetry of one of the oldest media types (billboards) getting a modern revamp with a new platform, and using an old-school typewriter to craft messages to new brands," says Kat Thomas, creative director at Stink Studios. "With one hundred singular gestures, we’ve drawn on our out-of-home expertise and our history working with brands to understand what makes each business distinctive. We’ve then translated that insight into a personalised experience and a large-scale expression of love and respect for every brand that features in the campaign, built with craft and genuine human effort.”

For more branding inspiration, take a look at how The Economist shades AI in these sharp new billboard ads or check out Guinness' new ads that are lovely (literally).

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/design/advertising/ad-platform-sparks-brand-romance-with-100-love-letter-billboards 954nDoy92bHtcf7mHmbbMS Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:00:00 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ Fans think Beyoncé’s $1000 empty wooden box is a sign ]]> For many Bey Hive members, the Queen B can do no wrong. The legendary singer has been on the scene for decades, releasing countless collabs, merchandise and even her own whisky – but could Bey's latest stunt be a step too far for fans?

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of her hit album B'Day, Beyoncé decided to bless her fans with a custom wooden box. Why? I'm not entirely sure. With a whopping $948.01 USD price tag, I'm sure you're asking, Bey, what's in the box? Surprise, it's nothing.

For the Hive. The BEY KEEPER Collector’s Box is available now on https://t.co/JHmytRIx2j pic.twitter.com/fjb6bARQqCSeptember 4, 2026

"Inspired by the beauty of traditional beekeeper crates," this unassuming box is supposedly a place to home all your Beyoncé vinyls. Made of solid pine wood and finished with beeswax oil, it's a well-crafted, unconventional piece of merch, but I'm left wondering how on earth the price is justified at over $1000 after taxes and shipping.

Idk bout y’all, but i’ma do WHAT I WANT! 🤑 pic.twitter.com/us4eNFNEF6September 4, 2026

Sure, there's a bee engraving and a Beyoncé logo slapped on for a bit of customisation, but the design doesn't feel on-brand for Miss Sascha Fierce at all. But lo and behold, fans were buying into it, with theories quickly blooming.

"It actually doesn’t say the boxes are empty… It says there are no vinyls in the box. That doesn’t mean there isn’t something else in the box," one fan suggested. "Beyoncé giving the hive a $948.01 Beyhive collector box we NEVER asked for means she wants us to have it, which means something is in that box," they claimed. "I just can’t prove it"

Me playing with my $950 Beyoncé box: pic.twitter.com/90XaUtFNJCSeptember 4, 2026

Do I think there's a hidden Easter egg in Beyoncé's mysterious box? Probably not, but I'm not one to mess with the theories of the Bey Hive. Merchandise is notoriously expensive, and I think Bey and her team are simply testing how much they can push it. I'm just astounded it worked.

For more entertainment insight, take a look at these 5 celebrity brands that are nailing it, and what we can learn from them or check out why ASAP Rocky dumped this designer over leaked DMs.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/entertainment/fans-think-beyonces-usd1000-empty-wooden-box-is-a-sign WFu8jsPW6heUFBVu5vZw3j Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:02:20 +0000 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:03:01 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ These are the only budget office chairs we can recommend after six years of testing, and three of them have big discounts today ]]> We've been testing chairs for over six years, and we've been through dozens. You can see our verdict on the ultimate winners in our guide to the best office chairs for back pain. But do you need to invest hundreds of dollars to get a chair that won't do your back in? Not necessarily.

It's true that most cheap office chairs don't provide real lumbar support or the kind of adjustability you need to ensure a chair that works for your body. They don't tend to be comfortable to sit in for very long either. But there are some exceptions. We're particularly big fans of the Sihoo M18, currently reduced from $170 to $147 at Amazon.

Two years after we first reviewed it, we still think this chair shines in all the important areas: style, comfort, adjustability – and value. Here's that chair, and five others that we can recommend in the sub-$600 price range.

Sihoo

M18 Ergonomic Office Chair

At under $200, the Sihoo 18 is the best value office chair we've tested by a long way. The W-shaped seat and responsive mesh back provide all-day support, and the chair has adjustable lumbar support, headrest and armrests. It even looks quite good. It's the only budget office chair that we gave a five-star review.

Sihoo

M57 Ergonomic Office Chair

The main difference between the M57 and the M18 is that this chair has 3D armrests that adjust in height, angle, and forward/backward position. Many people won't want to pay more for this, but if you have a wide or narrow body frame or suffer from shoulder strain, it could be worth it. The M57 also looks more premium, with more metal in its construction.

Branch

Ergonomic Chair Pro

This is not a cheap office chair by any means, but it's a lot more economical than many ergonomic options, and it's in a class of its own in its mid-range price bracket. It provides superior adjustability to suit all body types with 14 ergonomic adjustments, 5-way armrests, and a padded, two-way lumbar support. See our full review.

Autonomous

ErgoChair Ultra 2

This is another office chair that pushes the limits of budget, but it's less than half the price of the Herman Miller Embody, from which it borrows some inspiration. It looks striking, it's comfortable for long sessions, and Autonomous provides a lifetime guarantee. Read our full Autonomous ErgoChair Ultra 2 review.

Muista

Desk Chair

More office rocking stool than chair, the Muista is weird, but it looks beautiful, takes up little room, making it perfect for small offices, and it could be better for our health. Active sitting is known to be better for posture and back health, and this chair leaves no other option than to fidget as you gently sway on a single piece of press-formed beech plywood. See our full review.

Secretlab

Titan Evo Stealth

This is the only gaming chair we recommend as this genus of chairs doesn't tend to be strong in the ergonomics department. The Secretlab Titan Evo proved to be a very pleasant exception, impressing us with its relatively restrained design and simple 'lumbar position' and 'lumbar curvature' dials on each side of the chair.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/tech/phones-tablets/these-are-the-only-budget-office-chairs-we-can-recommend-after-six-years-of-testing XyRDZr7DWRNdTwzHKWSBJR Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:03:01 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ Discover Fall cosy craft DIY kits starting at $17 ]]> As the summer winds down and the nights draw in, autumn brings the perfect opportunity to pick up a cosy craft. With gifting season on the horizon, it's also a great opportunity to get ahead of the game with some DIY presents.

Welcoming in the changing of the seasons can feel a little blue sometimes, but picking up a crafting hobby can be a great opportunity to still your mind and reconnect with yourself. Whether you want to spice up your interior design with a DIY wreath or test your skills with a cute fall-themed cross-stitch kit, there are plenty of deals to be found.

POSCA

Acrylic Paint Markers

MiraclesAndMoments

DIY Wreath Kit

LaRibbons

Autumn Ribbon Set

VickiNStitches

Autumn Cottage Embroidery Kit

Print Works

Autumn Colour Cardstock

Nuanchu

Dried Craft Flowers

HandyPunchStore

Punch Needle Autumn Wall Hanging

UHAPEER

Macrame Kit

Sarahlwaller86

Pumpkin Goose Needle Felting Kit

FlameCozy

DIY Candle Making Kit

PearlPineHome

Beginner Crochet Kit Pumpkin Basket

Ziurtut

Pumpkin Latch Hook Pillow Kit

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/art/art-supplies/discover-fall-cosy-craft-diy-kits-starting-at-usd17 YuyKJ2ZLKiQYYd4yHRmamG Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ Quote of the Day by Mary Cassatt: "I hated conventional art – I began to live." ]]> Source: Mary Cassatt, recalling her decision to exhibit with the Impressionists after Edgar Degas invited her to join them. Sotheby's cites Achille Segard's Un Peintre des Enfants et des Mères: Mary Cassatt (1913).

I hated conventional art – I began to live.
Mary Cassatt

Unlike some in our Quote of the Day series, Mary Cassatt didn't have the easiest route into the art world. She spent years trying to build a career in an art world with very clear ideas about what art should look like, who was allowed to make it and, as a woman, how far she could realistically expect to go. She studied in Paris, submitted work to the Salon and gradually became increasingly frustrated with the conventions she was expected to follow.

Then Edgar Degas invited her to exhibit with the Impressionists, and Cassatt later recalled: “I accepted with joy. At last I could work with absolute independence without considering the opinion of a jury. I had already recognised who my true masters were. I admired Manet, Courbet and Degas. I hated conventional art – I began to live.”

It's that last line I keep coming back to. “I hated conventional art – I began to live” as there’s a sense of release in it, as though Cassatt isn't simply saying that she preferred one way of painting to another, but that finding artists who opened up a different way of working changed what being an artist actually meant to her.

A watercolour self portrait of a woman — A self-portrait by Mary Cassatt, circa 1880. (Image credit: Getty Images / Picturenow)

That's where her quote becomes more relevant than simply ‘be original’. Cassatt wasn't working in some creative vacuum, and she wasn't pretending that everything that came before her was irrelevant. Instead, she admired Manet, Courbet, and Degas, and their work gave her somewhere to go, something to be different against, because conventions aren't necessarily the enemy.

You need to know what has come before, understand the rules before you start breaking them, and sometimes the restrictions of a particular job or project are exactly what make a piece of work interesting. The trouble starts when you stop noticing the difference between being influenced by something and simply reproducing it.

That’s relevant today, when you can see more art in a few minutes than Cassatt could have encountered in weeks – open Instagram, Pinterest, ArtStation or whatever your particular rabbit hole happens to be, and there is an endless stream of artists, colour palettes, compositions, brush styles, character designs and visual trends competing for your attention.

A painting of a couple and child in a rowing boat — The Boating Party (1893-94) pointed to a new direction – the geometric structure, and flattened, compressed sense of space broken with tradition. (Image credit: Getty Images / Art Images)

The problem with having so many influences is separating what excites you from what simply seems to be working for everyone else. You can absorb all of the art and styles available without really noticing – the right colours, references, texture, perhaps even the right amount of roughness to make it feel like your digital art is handmade, and yet something about it doesn't quite feel like yours.

Cassatt's breakthrough wasn't about ignoring everyone else, either. It was about finding the people who made her want to do something differently – Manet, Courbet and Degas weren't formulas for her to copy; they were artists who helped her see what could be done, what was possible, when the conventions everyone else is obeying are shut down. For Cassatt, that meant applying Japanese-inspired techniques – printmaking, flattened depth, almost geometric composition – to scenes of women and domestic life.

That's what makes “I began to live” such a good ending to think about, as it's not really a rejection of influence, but a recognition of the point at which influence becomes your own, and the things you've absorbed stop telling you what to make and start giving you the freedom to find out what else can be done.

Visit the the Mary Cassatt website for more art and inspiration.

Our pick of the best Mary Cassatt art books:

Abbeville Press

Mary Cassatt: Paintings and Prints

DelMonico Books

The Prints of Mary Cassatt

Children's Press

Mary Cassatt (getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists)

Chronicle Books

Cassatt: Mothers and Children

Yale University Press

Mary Cassatt at Work

Lucent Books

Mary Cassatt: Famous Female Impressionist (eye on Art)

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/art/quote-of-the-day-by-mary-cassatt-i-hated-conventional-art-i-began-to-live dyYyCLjbvJCit9ZpneZS3X Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ Nightmare Operator is like Resident Evil 4 and Shin Megami Tensei had a PS1 baby, then taught it fighting-game mechanics ]]> Note: the images in this article are work-in-progress screens.

The rise of low-poly , PS1-inspired aesthetics in indie games isn't just about nostalgia. Its prominence in horror-themed games is especially fitting, not just because it evokes survival horror pioneers like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, but because in horror, less is more, while a more abstract image can also elicit more unease than a fixed camera obscuring what's around the corner.

For Nolan Joseph, president of indie studio DDDistortion, developing its debut game Nightmare Operator, a third-person action horror in the style of Resident Evil 4, these older visuals have another benefit.

"One of the things that I feel about modern games is they're beautiful, but there's so much density of visual information on the screen that it becomes hard to parse," he tells me following a hands-on I had of Nightmare Operator back at BitSummit this summer. "The original Resident Evil 4, you just knew what was interactable because you could look at it and tell just because there were only so many things from the environment, but the remake has to use arbitrary yellow paint, which ends up making it feel more like a gamified thing, whereas the original felt more like a realised world."

Screens from a stylised anime game made to look like they were rendered on PS1 — DDDistortion

Achieving a PS1 visual design

The irony then is that while modern games might have more photorealistic visuals, they also often end up feeling less real. That isn't to say Joseph rejects modern tools, since Nightmare Operator is being developed in Unity and uses its Universal Render Pipeline (URP), though the small team still uses custom-built shaders to create and maintain the game's low-poly, low-res look. "It has to look consistently downscaled, so if you're running it at 4K or 1080p, it still has to look like it's running at 480p," he explains. "There's all this math and behind-the-scenes rendering stuff you have to do to figure out the size of the monitor, convert it down to that size and then blow it back up."

Another key modern rendering technique the game uses to reproduce a PS1-style look is volumetric fog, even though it's a "super modern, expensive effect" compared to what the original console could do. "By specifically combining retro with new, you get these unique looks that just don't exist anywhere else," Joseph adds. "Because we're using volumetric fog everywhere, there's always this nice dithered gradient all over the place in the game, and I think it creates a really unique image that feels unfixed in any particular time period."

On the surface, Nightmare Operator's vision of Tokyo in a dystopian setting where nightmarish yokai roam its ruins is quite comparable to the hardcore apocalyptic JRPG series Shin Megami Tensei, although Joseph adds that there's also a sci-fi element to its setting of "oppressive monolithic governments" that was actually inspired by Half-Life 2's City 17 and Combine oppressors. But the Tokyo-based developer also wants to create a more authentic version of Japan's capital by reimagining the places less known by tourists, so the demo that I played was set in Nakano, which could be best described as the smaller, quieter version of Akihabara but for serious otakus in the know, while another level is set in Shimokitazawa, a hipster district better known by the locals.

Nightmare Operator has a cool retro aesthetic that complements its nightmarish creations and atmosphere, and it has much smoother combat than other horror games of the era it evokes, but the special sauce is that it also has a fighting-game design. That's down to the weapon your protagonist, Misha, has, which uses a Clutch system that allows you to change the module to turn it into another gun by performing motion inputs like those in Street Fighter, like the Hadouken's forward quarter-circle or the Shoryuken's forward-diagonal.

Incidentally, you can also use your modular weapon for melee combat, which then borrows a little from Super Smash Bros where a neutral input or holding the stick in a certain direction will result in different kinds of attacks. But the two styles synergise: shooting overheats your gun, while melee helps reduce the heat faster.

"This is like a Trojan horse to try and get people interested in fighting games," Joseph admits. "But we're taking those systems that are really hard and stressful in the context of a fighting game, and putting them into a context where a monster is coming at you. Even though it is high pressure, it's a completely different type of tension than a fighting game. And I think it's more conducive to helping people learn those initial unique quirks of the inputs."

My one gripe is that, as someone who mains Chun-Li in Street Fighter, the Clutch won't include charging inputs like holding down back then forward, since that would take too long when you're being pursued by tricky, fast-moving enemies. Even so, this indie action-horror has a distinct retro aesthetic and innovative design that's high on my radar.

Nightmare Operator is coming soon to PC, and you can wishlist on Steam.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/3d/video-game-design/nightmare-operator-is-like-resident-evil-4-and-shin-megami-tensei-had-a-ps1-baby-then-taught-it-fighting-game-mechanics No6NKRfaimvPPBbCJVfZ6m Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:21:13 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ Guinness's new billboard ads are lovely (literally) ]]> In the branding world, going logo-free has become the ultimate flex. Building an ad shaped by a logomark or typography alone can be a risky move, but when it lands, it's the ultimate power move, showcasing a brand's cultural influence and instant recognisability.

The latest to join the ranks is Guinness with its new 'LoVely' campaign. Drawing on its brand heritage and iconic logo, the simple yet charming ads are a prime example of how unfussy design can create timeless billboard ads.

Created in collaboration with advertising company AMV BBDO, the premise is wonderfully simple. Harking back to its 1930s tagline, 'Lovely Day for a Guinness', the new campaign expertly extracts this nostalgia, placing the word 'lovely' over slice-of-life moments made better with a Guinness in hand. The 'V' is cleverly replaced with the brand's iconic harp logomark, further reinforcing the brand's heritage, while the serif font gestures to the Guinness wordmark without feeling too dated.

“Sometimes the best ideas are right in front of you," says George Hackforth-Jones, Global Creative Director, AMV BBDO. "What we're most proud of with LoVely isn't just the beautiful simplicity of the design thinking or the photography. It's that the campaign captures the breadth, spirit and relatability of these moments, and with one simple word gives new depth and meaning to a brand platform that’s been around for nearly 100 years.”

For more creative inspiration, check out how The Economist shades AI in these sharp billboard ads, or take a look at these ingenious Lego billboards that demonstrate how sometimes less is more.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/design/advertising/guinnesss-new-billboard-ads-are-lovely-literally 798yFr9KYU8kohpN6NLs9J Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ This artist upcycles vintage artwork to give forgotten paintings a quirky modern twist ]]> The Canadian artist Heather Castles applies acrylic paints on vintage art surfaces to upcycle unloved or damaged old artworks. She often adds pop-culture fan art references in the original artist’s style. The results give forgotten paintings a fun second life with a quirky modern twist.

Below, Heather talks us through three examples of his work.

Harvest Moon

Upcycled art made by painting with acrylic paints on vintage art surfaces — (Image credit: Heather Castles)

“I painted the ‘moon’ in soft colours to balance the warm details. The glossy original painting and the more matte, textured acrylic that I added created a lovely effect of texture and light that cannot be captured in print.”

To Isengard

“I couldn’t resist adding in a portrait of the popular meme of a twiggy tree running to Isengard! I love that he’s so tiny yet leading the way – much like the hobbits were eager to help their friends in battle.”

As You Wish

“I chose to paint this tender moment from The Princess Bride before they kissed, because when I watched this epic film as a kid, I always had the same disgusted thought: ‘they’re kissing again!’

You can see more of Heather's work on her website.

Get the gear

Inspired to replenish your own art supplies? See below for deals on the gear you need for acrylic painting.

Winsor & Newton

Professional Acrylic Paint Starter Set

Nicpro

Bulk Acrylic Paint Set

Falling in Art

Wooden Tabletop Easel

Royal & Langnickel

Majestic Deluxe Brush Set

This article originally appeared in ImagineFX. Subscribe to ImagineFX to never miss an issue. Print and digital subscriptions are available.

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Winsor & Newton

Winsor & Newton Professional Acrylic Paint Starter Set

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Nicpro 14 Colors Large Bulk Acrylic Paint Set for Artist (16.9 Oz, 500 Ml)

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/art/traditional-art/this-artist-upcycles-vintage-artwork-to-give-forgotten-paintings-quirky-modern-twists ba8NysXaVjU6pvQHEqrBHV Fri, 11 Sep 2026 07:00:00 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ Eizo FlexScan EV3450XC review: a well‑rounded ultrawide with everyday smarts ]]> The EIZO FlexScan EV3450XC is designed to be the centrepiece of a modern hybrid workspace. It is a 34.1‑inch curved ultrawide with USB‑C docking, LAN, a built‑in webcam and microphone, and one of the best ergonomic stands you can get at this size. It is not aimed at colour‑critical creative professionals, but it does offer a reliable IPS panel with strong presets, excellent usability, and a long list of features that make everyday work easier.

If you are exploring your options, take a look at our guide to the best monitors with a webcam.

A black Eizo FlexScan EV3450XC monitor on a desk — (Image credit: Future / Erlingur Einarsson)

Key specifications

Feature	Details
Panel	34.1‑inch IPS, LED backlight
Resolution	3440 x 1440 (UWQHD), 21:9
Brightness (measured)	296 nits
Contrast	1000:1
Response time	5 ms GtG
Colour	sRGB coverage, 16.77 million colours
Inputs	USB‑C (94W PD), DisplayPort, 2× HDMI
USB Hub	2× USB‑A, 1× USB‑C
LAN	RJ‑45 (1000BASE‑T)
Webcam	5MP with Windows Hello
Speakers	2x 4W
Weight	12.1 kg with stand
Stand	Height, tilt, swivel, removable

Design and build

Excellent FlexStand ergonomics
Clever cable‑management system

The EV3450XC follows EIZO’s minimalist FlexScan design language. The bezels are slim, the lines are clean, and the cabinet is available in black or white with matching stands and cables. The FlexStand is one of the best ergonomic stands available, and offers smooth height, tilt, and swivel adjustments that make the heavy 12.1 kg unit feel surprisingly easy to position (once you've managed to lift it onto your desk, that is).

The cable‑tidy system on the rear, with a removable snap-on panel concealing the ports, is a standout feature. It keeps the monitor looking clean even when you are using it as a full docking hub. Build quality is strong overall, although there is more plastic on show than you might expect from a premium Eizo display. The webcam and microphone are integrated discreetly into the bezel, maintaining the clean aesthetic.

Design score: 4/5

Features

USB‑C docking with 94W power delivery
Built‑in webcam and microphone with Windows Hello

This is EIZO’s first monitor with an integrated webcam and microphone, and the implementation is thoughtful. The 5‑megapixel camera delivers a clear image and supports Windows Hello for quick, secure logins. The microphone uses noise‑cancellation and echo‑cancellation to keep your voice clear during calls, and the stereo speakers are neatly hidden in the bezel.

Connectivity is where the EV3450XC excels. USB‑C handles video, audio, data, and power delivery up to 94 watts, which means most laptops can run from a single cable. The built‑in LAN port is ideal for laptops without an Ethernet port, and the USB hub provides enough ports for everyday peripherals. Picture‑by‑Picture lets you run two systems side‑by‑side, and Screen InStyle software adds useful desktop‑organisation tools.

Features score: 4.5/5

Performance

Reliable IPS colour with useful presets
Comfortable curve for productivity

The 34.1‑inch IPS panel offers a wide, comfortable workspace with a gentle curve that suits productivity and general creative work. The UWQHD resolution keeps text sharp and gives you plenty of room to arrange multiple windows. Brightness is rated at 300 nits, and using my colorimeter, I measured it at 296 nits, which is close enough to call it an accurate claim. This brightness, in an era of OLEDs everywhere, feels adequate rather than impressive. Colour performance is reliable, and the preset profiles are genuinely helpful for creative tasks.

The curve is subtle enough for photo and design work, although you will still notice some distortion at the edges when working on precise layouts. The OSD is excellent, with clear menus and intuitive navigation. Eizo's eye‑care features, including Auto EcoView and Paper Mode, make long sessions more comfortable (especially the latter when I have been reading long texts).

Performance score: 4/5

Who's it for?

Hybrid workers who want a single‑cable ultrawide workstation

The Eizo FlexScan EV3450XC is perfect for users who want a monitor that simplifies their desk setup while offering strong ergonomics, reliable colour, and integrated communication tools. It is not a reference‑grade creative display, but it is an outstanding productivity monitor with enough colour accuracy for everyday creative tasks.

Eizo ColorEdge CG2700X scorecard
Section	Score	Summary
Design & build	4/5	Strong ergonomics and tidy design
Features	4.5/5	Excellent connectivity and integrated webcam
Performance	4/5	Reliable IPS panel with average brightness

Buy it if:

You want a single‑cable USB‑C workstation
You need a built‑in webcam and mic for hybrid work
You value ergonomics and long‑term reliability

Don't buy it if:

You need high brightness for a bright studio
You want top‑tier webcam quality
You prefer a flatter screen for precise design work

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/tech/monitors/eizo-flexscan-ev3450xc-review-a-well-rounded-ultrawide-with-everyday-smarts wU6kdoFYMEHRobw3YWEArd Fri, 11 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ Forget the iPhone Duo, these super cheap dumb phones offer the digital detox you're probably craving ]]> So after months of rumours and speculation, Apple has finally revealed the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone. It offers more multitasking, more selfie-taking and more screen gazing.

But many people have started to realise that more digital time isn't necessarily good for us. More people are trying to limit their time on social media or commit to digital detoxes. If you don't want to disconnect completely but want less temptation of getting sucked into doomscrolling, the best phone to opt for in 2026 might not be one of the best camera phones but a dumb phone that handles all the basics while letting you forget that it's there.

Happily most dumb phones are also a lot cheaper than Apple's $1,999 new foldable too. Here are six choice picks.

TCL

Flip 4

Who needs a fold when you can flip? If you only need a dumbphone for calls and texts , this retro flip design model from TCL is a great affordable choice. Like the iPhone Duo, it has a front and internal display. Unlike the Duo, you get satisfying large physical buttons, including shortcut keys. The camera offers 5MP video recording.

Nokia

106 Feature Phone

You can till get devices from the original king of Dumb phones, known for their durable design and reliability. Whether you plan on using it as a dumbphone or a spare burner phone for emergencies, it has a super robust build, dual sim capacity and space for up to 500 text messages.

Nokia

3210

For a slightly more luxury Nokia dumb phone, the 3210 is a classic design icon. Exclusively compatible with GSM carriers (no AT&T or Verizon), this will take you right back to 1999, which maybe isn't a bad place to be right now. Yes, it still comes with Snake along with new cloud apps.

Europe only

HMD

2660 Flip 4G

If you're in Europe, this is an option if you're looking for a sleek dumb phone that makes a statement. HMD is a Finnish company created by former Nokia exec. With a more modern aesthetic available in three colours, this social-media-free phone flips open to reveal a physical keypad with slim buttons and a large screen. You flip it open to answer calls and snap it shut to hang up. Nice.

Punkt

MP02 (4G)

The Punkt MP02 is one of the nicest-looking minimalist dumbphones you'll find, if not the cheapest. It's been around since late 2021, yet it still regularly goes out of stock on the manufacturer's own website. Our Design Editor loves it for the combination of sleek retro design and bare minimum necessities, perfect for anyone who wants to remain operational but go into stealth mode.

Mudita

Kompakt

The Mudita Kompakt is quite an unusual-looking dumb phone with its e-ink display. The paper-like, glare-free screen remains visible in harsh sunlight, making it an interesting option as a very mini ebook reader. It does have a camera, but the MuditaOS promises no ads or tracking, and when you need a full break, you can toggle on Offline+ Mode to disables GSM, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, camera, and microphones.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/tech/phones-tablets/forget-the-iphone-duo-these-super-cheap-dumb-phones-offer-the-digital-detox-youre-probably-craving EeGTLuM5sTVmmAXCHzjxBh Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:19:19 +0000 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:18:09 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ This teeny but powerful MacBook charger looks like it could be perfect for travel, and it costs under $90 ]]> Laptop chargers aren't the most exciting bit of tech for creatives, but they're pretty essential if you spend a lot of time on the road. For a long time, the problem was that a charger enough power to really charge a laptop would be a big brick of a thing, but that's changed with smaller, more efficient GaN chargers.

The SolidSafe Gansta Pixel 4-Port USB-C GaN Laptop Charger costs $89.99 at Amazon, delivers 140W of power and measures just 16 inches square. It even comes with UK, EU and Australia/Argentina adapters so you're ready to roll if you're travelling abroad (see our pick of the best power banks for more options).

Gangsta Pixel 140w 4-Port GAN Laptop Charger: $89.99
I'm a big fan of Sharge's 3-Port GAN which is currently reduced from $94 to $79 at Amazon. This Gangsta charger looks pretty similar but adds a USB-A port, which should be handy for anyone who still has older electronic devices they want to charge alongside their laptop. Plus you get those three plug adapters for travel.

The 140W USB-C Power Delivery makes it suitable for even a demanding laptop like a MacBook Pro, and the pixel display eliminates guess work by showing how much each device is charging.View Deal

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/tech/accessories/this-teeny-but-powerful-macbook-charger-looks-like-it-could-be-perfect-for-travel-and-it-costs-under-usd90 BXsvGr84Mme6zxZCVLddA6 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 02:09:04 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ The Metroid Dread sequel takes a surprising horror-esque direction with a shocking new mechanic ]]> It's been a busy week for Nintendo. After the announcements of the Zelda Ocarina of Time remake and Zelda edition Switch 2, yesterday's Nintendo Direct event revealed another biggie: Metroid Ravenous.

After the success of Metroid Dread, many players were hoping Nintendo and MercurySteam would continue the 2D storyline. This new mainline entry looks like it should deliver the goods – while adding a shocking new mechanic.

The Metroid Ravenous trailer (above) is giving Metroid Dread 2 energy, leading many to see it a direct continuation of the same design philosophy but created for the improved capabilities of the Switch 2.,

The big surprise is Samus's new "feeding" mechanic. She can seemingly consume enemies using her awakened Metroid abilities, further developing the Metroid DNA storyline established in Metroid Fusion and expanded at the end of Metroid Dread. It's a strange, dark and more horror-esque mechanic that I don't think anyone could have predicted.

The darker tone is apparent in the trailer's atmosphere too. With the "eat or be eaten" theme, it's intense, and one of the boldest directions the series has taken.

While fans are generally fascinated, not all of the reactions are positive. Some worry that the game may double down on the very demanding combat and precision boss fights seen in late-game sections of Metroid Dread.

There is also curiosity around how exactly the devouring mechanic will work in gameplay and whether it risks making Samus feel less like a traditional Metroid protagonist and more like a power-fantasy action character. There's some apprehension that balancing a "siphon gauge" or needing to constantly feed on enemies could disrupt the classic exploration flow.

Others are surprised by the more vocal (and furious) Samus. I wonder if the intention here is to give her a stronger, more consistent voice to pave the way for a film if The Legend of Zelda movie does well next year.

Metroid Ravenous will be released for the Switch 2 on 28 January, 2027. You can preorder the game from the Nintendo Store.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/entertainment/gaming/the-metroid-dread-sequel-takes-a-surprising-horror-esque-direction-with-a-shocking-new-mechanic NvTcVXthhFK6Eyv3mwbA63 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 16:00:00 +0000 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 23:52:10 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ Final Fantasy VII Revelation hands-on: a beautiful game world now looks even more stunning ]]> Final Fantasy VII Revelation will have a built-in constituency of potential buyers when it's released on April 8 2027. It’s the third instalment in an epic project in which Square Enix took 1997’s Final Fantasy VII and expansively remade it, using modern technology, into a trilogy. So pretty much everyone who bought 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake and 2024’s Final Fantasy Rebirth will want to buy it.

In reality, it should be on the radar of anyone who has an interest in Japanese RPGs (JRPGs), and especially the long-running and genre-defining Final Fantasy series. At the recent Gamescom show, Revelation was playable for the first time and after about 50 minutes with it (which seemed to pass in a flash) it left me feeling that it easily passes muster when compared to the most recent and high-tech JRPGs – not bad for a reimagined version of a 1997 game.

Familiar but enhanced visuals

Aesthetically, Final Fantasy VII Revelation is easy to describe: it shares an art-style with the two previous games in the remade trilogy, as well as most recent iterations of the main Final Fantasy franchise. Namely colourful-looking 3D characters with a hint of anime-inspiration traversing lush-looking countryside environments and more industrial cities.

There was a clear progression in visuals between Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth, and that continues with Revelation. While its environments are mostly the same as those seen in Rebirth, they are also a tiny bit more detailed, crisper and colourful.

Plus Revelation adds some new locales: most notably Wutai, the mythical republic over the sea from Midgar, from whence team-member Yuffie hails. At the end of my Gamescom play-through, I was able to wander around Wutai’s Capital City briefly and found a charming new environment, with plenty of verticality.

Capital City is situated in a picturesque bowl surrounded by rocky mountains, and features a mediaeval Japanese village style of architecture, with large pagoda-style buildings with pitched roofs and blossoming cherry trees everywhere. Along with cats, which the game encouraged me to photograph.

Revelation seemed to have ramped up the sense of being a safari-style tourist, as it also encouraged wildlife photography elsewhere. And it provided plenty of environments which were a joy to traverse. Visually, it conforms to the classic modern JRPG style, but is as fine-looking as any of its peers.

Traversing the skies

And in Revelation, it’s easy to get to any of those lovely environments, since it’s the first instalment of the trilogy to be truly open-world. This time around, you get to traverse the game-world in an airship called the High Wind (a fairly steampunk-style contraption, a visual genre which has featured in many past Final Fantasy games).

The Gamescom play-through started at the beginning of Chapter 4, marking the first time Revelation’s party encountered the High Wind. Accordingly, it offered a tutorial in how to pilot it, which I ignored, not wanting to waste time. Anyway, it was simple to operate, chugging around serenely above the clouds, with the game-worlds different areas clearly labelled.

I headed to the Grasslands, an area seen early on in Rebirth, keen to investigate how it had changed between the two games. Once I had positioned the High Wind satisfactorily, a simple button-press took me to its side where I jumped off to parachute to ground level, discovering I could glide around precisely before deploying my chute. Cutely, pressing R1 just before landing spawned a chocobo for me to ride.

FITS: outfits with benefits

A bit of random traversal provided some random creatures to battle, allowing me to assess Revelation’s battle-system. Rebirth added one layer to Remake’s battle-system in the form of Synergy, allowing two party members to combine to land powerful attacks, and Revelation adds another layer in the form of what the game calls FITS.

FITS are simply new outfits, but they add new abilities and attributes while battling, and essentially constitute a means of bringing new character classes to the game’s battle-party members. There are four FITS outfits: Warrior, Knight, Black Mage and Summoner.

Warrior is attack-focused and Knight defence-focused (so Knights-equipped party members will receive defence buffs and draw fire from the rest of the party). Black Mage is magic-focused, whereas Summoner allows suitably equipped characters to summon helpful creatures much earlier in battles than would previously have been the case.

In battle, the FITS system lets you pick from a whole new menu of FITS attacks, along with the abilities, spells and synergy attacks that could be triggered in Rebirth. I tried a few and they were helpfully powerful, and were accompanied by some really flashy visual effects.

But in truth, I didn’t have enough time to explore the full depths of the FITS system, deciding which outfit could best be assigned to which party member, and which worked best in which battle situation. Clearly, one of the joys of Revelation will derive from working out how best to benefit from FITS.

Finding one of the Synergy Upgrade machines at the chocobo farm in the Grasslands, I was able to determine that the FITS system is intertwined with the Synergy one: I could choose FITS upgrades which applied when particular characters were operating synergistically. That added a layer of complexity to a system which is already a tad opaque. But Synergy and FITS upgrades, at least, can be respecced easily enough.

Plenty to do

Exploration of maps already explored in Rebirth yielded plenty of new activities, side-quests and areas of interest. At one point I uncovered a parachute-landing target which promised rewards if I landed on it from the High Wind. Returning to the High Wind at any point was a breeze – a simple matter of a couple of button-presses.

The new side-quests, according to Square Enix, have a new twist, in that some of them will play out differently according to which party member you choose to undergo them. There are two new party members in Revelation: Cid, a familiar character from the franchise, who captains the High Wind, and Vincent Valentine, a vampiric type.

I also found a handy new piece of kit in the form of a grapple-gun which whizzed me to designated grapple-posts. It came in particularly handy in Wutai’s Capital City, which is more or less built on the side of a cliff. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to investigate a new area called Rocket City, but shots of it – naturally featuring rockets – suggested a pretty industrial urban environment.

Nor, at a fairly early period in the game, did I encounter any of the Weapons, giant beasts that operate as guardians of the planet, which were seen in Rebirth but in Revelation operate as bosses which the battle-party will have to take on.

The biggest instalment yet?

I vastly enjoyed my short time in Revelation. Unsurprisingly, it had plenty about it which was familiar, but it took an already beautiful game-world, made it look even better, and added a whole new cornucopia of things to do in a world which had truly opened up for the first time (from the High Wind, I could have proceeded to Wutai for the next chunk of the main storyline, or could roam around the rest of the world to my heart’s content).

Its open-world nature surely means that Revelation will be the longest slice of the remade Final Fantasy VII trilogy – so it will be a very long game indeed, particularly for the sort of players who feel compelled to complete everything. It will surely be a must-buy for anyone who wants to discover the sort of heights that modern JRPGs are capable of hitting.

Final Fantasy VII Revelation will be released for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S Nintendo Switch and PC on 8 April 2027.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/entertainment/gaming/final-fantasy-vii-revelation-hands-on-a-beautiful-game-world-now-looks-even-more-stunning Vj8KRsBFZHr8dux2UvHv8L Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ Apple just revealed exactly which two products the iPhone Duo is designed to replace ]]> For a long time, it felt like everybody had given their two-cents on the folding iPhone except Apple itself. The device has been rumoured for so long that pretty much everyone has shared an opinion on what the device will look like, and who it'll be for. But now, at last, we know what what was going through Apple's mind.

Yes, the iPhone Duo has finally been unveiled. And the first surprise was the name. Long rumoured to be called the iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold, Apple has opted to emphasise the, well, duality of the thing. The company isn't pushing the foldable as a single, 'ultra' iPhone. It's marketing it as a two-in-one.

The question is, what two existing products does the iPhone Fold represent? The obvious answer would be two iPhones – it's called the iPhone Duo after all, and the whopping starting price of $2000 is around that of two iPhones. But Apple's own marketing suggests that the company sees the Duo as a combination of two very specific products.

@apple
♬ original sound - apple

We've been somewhat taken aback by Apple's recent foray into zany TikTok content. The brand's fun, irreverent videos have felt somewhat out of character for the brand, and none more so than the latest, captioned, 'The making of iPhone Duo'. The video depicts an iPhone Air and iPad mini enjoying a romantic candlelit dinner. Yes, the suggestion seems to be that the two products enjoyed their dinner so much that they ended up conceiving the iPhone Duo. Okay, then.

As you might expect, Apple's suggestion that two of its products are, er, romantically involved, has been met with raised eyebrows. "I’d never thought Apple would make an advert like this," one user comments, while another adds, "Wait that means... Ohhh iPhone you dirty dawwwwggggggg."

Apple Pencil (USB-C) — The iPhone Duo will only support the Apple Pencil with USB-C (Image credit: Apple)

But the irreverent ad also serves to confirm that Apple sees the iPhone Duo as a combination of the iPhone Air and iPad mini. Which something of a dilemma for creatives. Does the Duo manage to serve the needs of those who use both devices? Sure, the 7.6-inch inner display is close to that of the iPad mini's 8.3 inches. But there are immediate trade-offs. For one thing, the iPhone Duo will only support the Apple Pencil with USB-C, as apposed to the Pro. For another, it's possible to get an iPhone plus iPad mini for under £1500. Is it worth an extra $500 for the convenience of having both as a single product?

Of course, we'll have to wait until we've got our hands on the iPhone Duo to offer our definitive take on whether it's up to scratch as either an iPhone, or an iPad. But one thing's for sure – it's definitely complicated things for creatives.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/design/advertising/apple-just-revealed-exactly-which-two-products-the-iphone-duo-is-designed-to-replace WCov5o3sFR27TeGYmx6wCN Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:33:38 +0000 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:53:58 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ The iPhone Duo is perfect for people with uncanny alien fingers ]]> Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo, is here, and it's already proving divisive. Whether it's the whopping $1,999 price tag or the controversial 'passport' design, Apple has its work cut out to convert the naysayers – especially after its latest stunt.

To show off the Duo's functional, ergonomic design, Apple has tried its best to convince us the phone will easily fit in one hand when unfolded. This would be somewhat believable if the marketing pictures didn't feature unnaturally long E.T-Esque fingers. My question is, did they think we wouldn't notice? We wouldn't have this issue with dumbphones, just saying.

Yeah I don't know if I buy this, Apple. https://t.co/F1y9tPbg6V pic.twitter.com/ScUSXiA4YaSeptember 9, 2026

As new CEO John Ternus sung the praises of the Duo at yesterday's 'Surprise and Shine' event, an image of a strange, alien-fingered hand loomed above him. It was almost unassuming enough that it could've gone unnoticed, but naturally some eagle-eyed viewers called Apple's bluff, claiming it was a botched Photoshop job.

"Apple: 'The phone fits perfectly. Please update your fingers,'" one X user teased. "Oh, you mean your fingers *aren’t* comically long and ten times the size of your entire body?!?! Freaks!" another joked, while another suggested, "maybe they used a long-fingered person."

Apple's new tagline:"Grow your fingers" 👀 pic.twitter.com/MfeWoax63FSeptember 10, 2026

Whether or not Apple used a hand model well-endowed in the digits department is beyond the point – the average-sized hand will likely struggle to cradle the Duo in its vertical form... and that's okay. Apple trying to gaslight us into thinking the Duo is more ergonomic than it actually is? That's less okay. True, it makes a slick marketing pic, but I can't help but feel a little deceived.

Training our fingers in order to use the iPhone Duo. pic.twitter.com/s4oGff1PioSeptember 10, 2026

For more Apple news, check out why some are worried that the iPhone Duo could present a brand-new health risk, or take a look at our review of the rival Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/tech/the-iphone-duo-is-perfect-for-people-with-uncanny-alien-fingers wAnxTtMs5f2qJhSdmo5iFQ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ The brand new Sony ANC headphone... is the old Sony ANC headphone?! ]]> The announcement that Sony is refreshing the WH-1000XM4 – their 2020 best-selling ANC headphone – has left me perplexed.

The newly named WH-1000XM4C (did you miss the added 'C'?) offers customers more of what they loved in the older model, says Sony, but offering more and doing better. And all for a competitive $300 ($50 cheaper than the original).

However, with a battery life that gives us three hours less than the 2020 model, and this year's Sony 1000X The Collexion, and last year's WH-1000XM6 crowding the market (not to mention my list of the best ANC headphones), the WH-1000XM4C seems like an odd addition.

Until, that is, you get into the weeds...

XM4C: Why you might hate it

A selection of images of the Sony WH-1000XM4C ANC headphone. — Sony

When I've tested the WH-1000XM range, I've always been struck by how uncomfortable they get over long listening sessions, especially when compared to competitors such as the Bose QC Ultra and Sennheiser Momentum ranges. As the XM4C is a rework of the XM4, with the same chassis and ear cup cushion depth, I'm not holding out much hope for its comfort. I hope I'm wrong.

Ultimately, that's all guesswork. What's more certain is that Sony has stated the XM4C will offer three hours less battery life than last year's WH-1000XM6 and the 2020 XM4 model. That's 27 instead of 30 hours of ANC-enabled use. I'm sure there are very good reasons for this, but from a purely marketing point of view, it's a massive fail, especially when you've got this year's Sennheiser Momentum 5 boasting a massive 57 hours of use with ANC.

However, further context helps paint more detail into this picture. The WH-1000XM4C is priced at $300, compared to the XM6 at $450 and the Momentum 5's $400.

When looked at through the prism of price, the XM4C appears to be Sony's best value headphone to date, and that's pretty exciting.

XM4C: Why you might love it

I thought the ANC of the XM4 was excellent, and the XM4C is apparently bringing a slightly improved noise cancellation, so I'm happy there. Yes, the XM6 will still offer the superior noise cancelling, but $150 better? That's a hard sell.

Where the reduced battery life of the XM4C is a fail, I think the proposed approach to tuning and the new EQ of the XM4C could be two solid wins.

First of all, the XM4C comes with 10-band EQ, a massive upgrade from the 5-band of the original XM4. It's the same EQ feature set as the XM6, and I'm mightily impressed by that.

Second, we're promised "updated sound tuning to match latest music trends", which I'm tentatively excited about. It's a bit of a meme in the audiophile space, but Sony's commercial headphones are known for their bloated sub- and mid-bass that tramples all over the lower midrange detail of music, making everything sound stuffy and boomy. To compensate for all that bass, they whack up the treble frequency and hey presto, you've got a classic V-shape sound signature that's about as subtle as a slap in the face.

If the marketing and early first impressions of the XM4C are to be believed, Sony has taken a different approach to the XM4C's tuning, reducing the mid-bass bloat to allow more midrange detail to come through. However, there are reports that they've increased the treble a touch, which seems like a bold choice! Either way, I think something fundamental needed to change with the WH-1000XM line, and I'm excited to hear it's happening, especially in the new value set.

Either way, with a 10-band EQ, hopefully there's enough room to personalise the XM4C's sound, and that might just be enough for me to strongly recommend the new $300 XM4C.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/tech/headphones-earbuds/the-brand-new-sony-anc-headphone-is-the-old-sony-headphone iRWEoYGQncsSqCsuhhffri Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:24:54 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ This artist designed a poker deck inspired by the crisp textures and geometric shapes of Cubism and Futurism ]]> The Canadian artist Dan Gartman loves everything analogue, and he gets excited about handmade items with imperfections and stories. Created using watercolour paints, acrylics and coloured pencils, his work embodies this while also taking inspiration from the crisp textures and geometric shapes of Cubism and Futurism.

Below, Dan talks us through four examples of his work, from a study for The Iliad to a character design for his own poker deck.

Achilles

Traditional art made using watercolours, acrylics and coloured pencils — (Image credit: Dan Gartman)

“This illustration was one that I made during my study of the Iliad, even though Achilles isn’t my favourite character from the epic. It’s a quick artwork that I did in one attempt using watercolours and a couple of green pencils.”

King of Clubs

“Someone has to reign the Club’s suit, so bless the King! Made with watercolours and ink pen, this is part of my poker deck. I used a circuit-cutting machine to make a stencil so I could sponge on the gold emblem with straight edges and circles.”

Unknown Water Anomaly

“This is what you never want to face in the ocean! Where are all the lost ships that people cannot find? Well, I’ve drawn an answer using acrylic paint and watercolour paper.”

Triplets

“These guys (or is it one guy?) are a card design from one of my monster card deck collections. I used acrylic and watercolour paper, as well as a dry sponge, in order to add texture to the background.”

You can see more of Dan's work on his website.

Get the gear

Looking to stock up your own art supplies? See below for deals on watercolor paints and coloured pencil sets.

Kalour

Professional Coloured Pencils

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Professional Watercolor 37ml

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Horadam Aquarell Artists' Watercolours, 5ml

This article originally appeared in ImagineFX. Subscribe to ImagineFX to never miss an issue. Print and digital subscriptions are available.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/art/traditional-art/this-artist-designed-a-poker-deck-inspired-by-the-crisp-textures-and-geometric-shapes-of-cubism-and-futurism YxZM447sZxcytFWiBMRzgf Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival is the horror game AAA publishers have been too prudish to make ]]> The modern games industry – finally acknowledged in most quarters as an important pillar of pop culture – doesn’t have many blind spots left, but one does persist due, one suspects, to its persistent desire to be as mainstream as possible in order to sell as many units as possible.

Think about it: the few games that even acknowledge the existence of sex, say RPGs like Mass Effect or The Witcher 3, where you can work hard to develop relationships with other characters in the game, treat the actual act coyly (although at least in the case of Geralt in The Witcher 3, they mine some comedy from it). Maybe GTA VI will contain some spicy moments dotted in between the violence, but don’t hold your breath.

But a game is about to arrive which does acknowledge sex, and specifically sadomasochism. Frankly, it could hardly do otherwise, because that game is Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival, based on the classic Hellraiser films, which chronicle the misdeeds of the Cenobites, a ghoulish extra-dimensional quasi-cult of sado-masochists unable to distinguish between pleasure and pain.

Screens from a horror game — (Image credit: Saber Interactive)

So respect is due to Saber Interactive, then, for its determination to make something which reproduces the Hellraiser movie franchise in game-form as faithfully as possible. Especially given that one of the features of this current age in which we all live is an unexpected prudishness – despite the rise of OnlyFans and the gruesome protagonists of the manosphere. Every month seems to bring a new report of how Gen Z is having less sex than any previous generation, although in truth, it may just be more reluctant to admit how much sex it is actually having.

But when Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival is released on October 8, it will undoubtedly create a stir, simply for not being coy about sadomasochistic sex. I’ve now played it twice, at this year’s and 2025’s Gamescom shows, and can confirm that it does a really fine job of recreating the Hellraiser universe. In the Gamescom 2025 demo, in particular, which showed the game's beginning, S&M was to the fore. It started with a bravura cutscene in which protagonist Aidan had distinctly non-standard sex with his girlfriend Sunny, who then got sucked into the sinister labyrinthine underworld occupied by Pinhead and the Cenobites. Cue Aidan’s overriding quest to rescue Sunny from the Cenobite labyrinth, armed with his mystical dimension-spanning puzzlebox.

After an initial sequence in said labyrinth, Aidan found himself in an earthly club heavily populated with Cenobites, often tied up and with flayed skin pulled back to expose their innards – body horror has, of course, featured in many of the darker survival-horror video games, but never with such an overt sadomasochistic undercurrent.

Disturbingly slick gameplay

Aesthetically, Hellraiser: Revival stayed true to the film's art style, but with a modern visual clarity. It had two distinct areas: the real world and the Cenobite labyrinth, the latter stony grey, full of traps, often reconfiguring itself, and very much the stuff of nightmares. Above ground, the environments were lush and detailed, emulating the sort of fetishistic clubs that you would imagine only the world’s elite know how to find.

The game’s depiction of such environments, along with Aidan’s apartment, was colourful and believable, but even outside of the labyrinth, it was unafraid to move into dream-sequence territory. In the 2026 demo I played, I at one point found myself in a very creepy ruined house, in which I had to perform various interactions in order to get it to reconfigure itself so I could escape.

One aspect which added, if anything, to the pervasive sense of dread was the slickness of the gameplay. In the 2025 Gamescom demo, it firmly occupied survival-horror territory, demonstrating a decent, precise stealth engine and requiring judicious crafting to earn small amounts of ammo, as well as making as many environmental kills as possible.

In the 2026 Gamescom demo, from a later stage in the game, I had a variety of weapons (although dead enemies still had to be looted for ammo) and could use the puzzlebox to, for example, draw flames from handy braziers and fire them at enemies. The puzzlebox, with its telekinetic properties, also proved useful in the labyrinth, allowing me to rotate segments of the walls to create a safe path when my progress was initially blocked by rotating blades embedded in the walls.

From what I saw, I have no doubt that Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival does a fantastic job of recreating the Hellraiser universe as a game – as it should, since Clive Barker himself was heavily involved in its development. Saber Interactive’s Chief Creative Officer Tim Willitts told me: “He’s helped us – he knows the game, he’s approved concept art, and he’s approved the story.”

It’s undoubtedly a labour of love, but Saber Interactive deserves extra kudos for throwing the highest production values imaginable at Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival. As well for making what Willitts acknowledges is: “Mature content; it’s entertainment made for adults.” When it comes out in October, you may find that the tabloidy end of the media tries to manufacture some sort of outrage. But when the rest of us play it, we may end up questioning why sex remains so coyly treated in video games.

Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC in 8 October.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/entertainment/gaming/hellraiser-revival-is-the-horror-game-aaa-publishers-have-been-too-prudish-to-make 3LLzZbyKsR2KvFQ4a8XDLU Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ Are the controversial new Harry Potter logos actually more historically accurate than the movie designs? ]]> A few days ago, we wrote about the new Harry Potter logos for the upcoming TV series, and it sparked a debate that shows no sign of disappearing into the mists that surround Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Many readers commented on our article and social media posts, and others wrote to us by email to express their opinions both for and against the new house emblems.

While the Harry Potter movies released between 2001 and 2011 were made by Warner Bros, and upcoming series is the work of HBO. That means new everything, from the cast to the sets and, yes, even the logo designs. The new symbols for the Hogwarts houses of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff look very different to those used in the movies. But are they really a glow down?

Old and new Hogwarts logos from the HBO Harry Potter series — The Hogwarts house symbols in the movies (left) and the designs for the new Harry potter series (right) (Image credit: HBO )

The movies' take on the Hogwarts house symbols took inspiration from classical family crests, complete with healm, shield and mantle. The HBO Hogwarts designs are simpler and more readable, with larger mascots placed on medieval-looking circles with less fussy ornamentation.

For some readers, modern corporate minimalism has entered the magical realm of Hogwarts. Some called the new designs "basic", "uninspiring" and even "AI-like".

"This franchise has way to big of a following to be cutting corners for cost," one reader complains.

Others picked apart the consistency of the new design language.

"I don't like that the scroll shape goes in a different direction for each animal, and Slytherin looks like a little upside down mushroom on the left bottom 'scroll'," one person wrote. "Us artists like details and none of these details are uniform, the HufflePuff circle is even a different color!"

There were also suggestions that the problem isn't the design per se but HBO's insistence on "remaking something that doesn't need remaking".

This is hilarious, so we are witnessing the decay of art. The new crests looks like AI generated images. There are many passionate designers who would have done better. HBO is not interested in putting efforts. Not to mention the crests' lake of elegance and auraSeptember 3, 2026

But others argue that the new designs are actually more historically accurate to Hogwarts’ founding era.

"According to lore, Hogwarts was founded around 990 AD – the late Anglo-Saxon period in Britain," one reader wrote by email. "Classical heraldry (featuring heater shields, knightly helmets, and elaborate mantling like those in the films) did not exist in the 10th century; it only emerged across Western Europe in the 12th to 14th centuries. In 990 AD, institutional emblems were preserved on round wax seals, carved wooden boss rings, or circular metal brooches."

"While the film crests represented a late-medieval or early-modern interpretation of heraldry, HBO's circular roundels offer a style that feels far more grounded in the Anglo-Saxon origins of Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Helga Hufflepuff. Beyond correcting Ravenclaw’s eagle mascot, the simplified circular framing reflects the exact medium a 10th-century founder would have actually used."

That's a great point, but it also raises a question. Would the Hogwarts houses not have rebranded at least once in over 1,000 years of history?

Another reader has a possible explanation for the longevity of their brand assets: "They are also magic, so they could very well have been charmed to not age and be the very ones used since the founding of the school."

I think that's a nice new contribution to Potter lore.

Now here's the trailer for the series.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/design/logos-icons/are-the-controversial-new-harry-potter-logos-actually-more-historically-accurate-than-the-movies J9SKz56hwSaNN75WAWc6T9 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:08:24 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ Apidya' Special (Switch 2) review: this weird '90s Amiga shooter gets the remaster it deserves ]]>

Details

Screens of a retro shooter with insects — (Image credit: Inin Games)

Publisher Inin Games

Developer Apidya Team

Release date 25 August

Format Switch (reviewed on Switch 2), PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox

Platform Proprietry

Few games remain ingrained in the memory, but the ones that do tend to have some strange hook that refuses to disappear, and for me, Apidya' has always been one of those games because, even after all these years, I can still picture that robotic wasp flying through the undergrowth, shooting insects, fish and all manner of wiggly things crawling out of a decaying rat carcass.

It's an image that stuck, partly because the Amiga was very good at producing this sort of thing in the early '90s (read our retro game console guide), when a developer could take a familiar shoot-'em-up template and dress it up in imaginative new ways, and partly because Apidya' really is quite odd when you step back and look at it. Underneath all that insect life, though, this is a straightforward Gradius-inspired shooter, with waves of enemies coming at you, power-up options running along the bottom of the screen and a steadily expanding arsenal of power shots, split lasers, drones and more being tapped into when you need them.

That basic design still works, and playing Apidya' Special on Switch 2 (it's releasing on Switch), I found myself enjoying the shooting more than I expected, because the remaster offers several ways to take the edge off without ruining the feel. You can extend your lives, continue from where you died and, most usefully, choose to keep your power-ups after losing a life, which means you don't get that familiar old-school shooter experience of making one stupid mistake and then having to fight your way back from practically nothing.

Apidya' Special is pure '90s weirdness

Those new play options make a big impact, because Apidya' still has plenty of those cruel 1990s game design ideas designed to catch you out, including a sewer pipe stage that flips the screen and your controls. It's a weird design decision that feels completely of its time, likely because the Amiga could flip and push pixels around, so the original developer, Kaiko, did it without really thinking about whether it should; ultimately, it adds to what made Apidya memorable in the first place.

The remaster even adds in some new ideas, such as Night Mode and randomised new enemy waves – there's new co-op too – all adding to the sense that this is a release that understands the original's personality.

The pixel art is a big part of that sense of identity, and Apidya' Special gets the remastering job right because it doesn’t overcook the new designs; in fact, it's remade them from the original 1992 Amiga assets and built on a proprietary engine, not Unity or Unreal, including unreleased assets intended for a cancelled 1990s console port. Those original Amiga graphics still hold up, while the updated pixel art gives everything more definition and clarity; the insect designs remain strange, the environments retain that grubby organic quality, and, importantly, the new pixel art, if you flip to modern visuals, doesn't bury the original ideas under layers of effects and unnecessary detail. You can tweak things with CRT shaders, bloom, and authentic scanline simulation too, so there's plenty for retro game fans.

That remaster restraint shows as the game moves away from its early nature-themed stages of grass and rivers and introduces more mechanical designs that feel lifted from R-Type, because retro remasters often keep adding detail until the original's clarity vanishes. Apidya' Special avoids that, keeping the sprites readable and letting the designs do the work, which is especially welcome in the later stages when things become increasingly busy.

But for all the personality in the art and setting, the actual structure of Apidya' rarely strays too far from Konami's Gradius template. You learn enemy patterns, choose when to take a power-up, try to keep your weapon setup intact for the big moments, and while Apidya' throws in enough strange micro-world insect-y ideas to keep things interesting, it never really feels as though it's trying to reinvent the genre.

That isn't necessarily a criticism, because the shooting remains solid and there's a pleasant rhythm to working through the stages, but it does mean the game lives or dies on how much you enjoy that old-school formula, and for me the answer is still mostly yes. The controls feel good, the pace works, and there's enough variation in the weapon system to make the power-ups feel tactical.

Boss encounters are equally nicely pitched, and feel more creative and weird than the usual shooters of the era – whether it’s the massive pike, laser-firing oyster or maggot-infested dead rat, they are odd, even if how you battle them is fairly rudimentary – sit screen-left and shoot. Don’t expect any complex memory tests or staged surprises; what you see is what you get.

That '90s pacing and skill test can mean bosses and some in-stage surprises lead to wild difficulty spikes, where out of the blue the game’s wave design and screen-flipping punish you abruptly. This is where Apidya' Special reveals its age, and it can be disarming to play games from the 90s like this, because they really didn’t hold back. It’s also a reason why the game is fairly short – just five stages that loop (with secret stages too) – because the imbalance means there’s hell to pay, and stages and bosses can be hard going (but you do have the game options to make life easier).

Still, I think that's why this remaster works, because Apidya' Special doesn't need to convince me that Apidya was secretly one of the great lost shooters of the Amiga era. It wasn't – hello SWIV, Disposable Hero, Battle Squadron, Silkworm, Turrican 2 – and pretending otherwise would probably miss the point. It's a very good ‘90s shoot-'em-up, heavily indebted to Konami, with some solid mechanics and a handful of ideas that haven't aged quite as well, but wrapped around all of that is this wonderfully peculiar world that still feels unlike anything else.

There are plenty of technically better shooters from this period, plenty with more demanding bosses and deeper systems, but I don't remember those games in such the same way as the Gradius-clone where you controlled a wasp and battled a praying mantis. Apidya' has always had that going for it, and Apidya' Special understands that its best move is to preserve the weirdness and not mess with the formula – the appeal was always in that bizarre combination of familiar Konami shooting and insect-infested design, and after spending time with it again, I'm glad it's not been tidied up too much.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/entertainment/gaming/apidya-special-switch-2-review-this-weird-90s-amiga-shooter-gets-the-remaster-it-deserves ZdfyRvtFUBczACWFu6VUpe Thu, 10 Sep 2026 07:00:00 +0000 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 10:55:30 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ Can you spot all the clues that prove this AI 'photo' isn't real? ]]> AI imagery and video still gets called out for some glaring errors. We recently saw a video of New York with two Empire State Buildings used to suggest that Hollywood should be quaking, while many small eateries and restaurants apparently don't realise that AI-generated menu items look revoltingly unappetising.

But AI image generators have been getting progressively better at replicating photorealism, and it's not always so easy to tell that an image is fake, leading to fears about how easily AI can be to spread lies online.

Take the image in the post on X below. There are lots of things wrong with the image. But can you spot them?

Heading to @BBC . A full day with 40 colleagues from BBC Verify, asking the important questions. Such as: is this photo real?Usually not. That's rather the point.Can you figure out why this picture is not real without using a detector ? #osint pic.twitter.com/4fsXzlkjKkSeptember 9, 2026

At first glance the image above looks like a photo of a mundane everyday scene at a courier officer, which appears to be handling shipment of a 50in TV. There's even a bit of motion blur on one of the person's hands.

"Can you figure out why this picture is not real without using a detector?" was the challenge laid down by AI researcher Henk van Ess. Take a moment to see how many clues you can spot.

Lovely challenge! 1. Text of tag not aligned properly 2. Odd shadows underneath left hand 3. Strange 'third leg'/ shadow pic.twitter.com/LEsaci2XIESeptember 9, 2026

Perspective error. pic.twitter.com/ajK8pBNlNPSeptember 9, 2026

Those commenting have noticed many anomalies in the image. Firstly, the TV's measurements. AI image generators might now be able to handle text, but it seems they're not too hot doing conversions between metric and imperial because 50 inches are not the same as 144cm.

Moreover, judging by its relative size compared to the floor tiles and the person in the image, the box wouldn't be large enough to hold a 50in TV (and less a 144cm one). The person also appears to have a third leg, and there are some strange shadows under their left hand.

Looking more closely, there are some perspective errors too. There's something pretty funky going on with the of tiling on the floor in the background. And on the box itself, the edges of the AirPlay/Home labels don’t follow the same vanishing point as the cardboard they’re supposedly printed on – another sign of AI image generation (or some bad Photoshop).

Someone also finds it suspect that this kind of box would be printed with spot colour and CMYK. It's even more suspicious that there's no brand logo on the image of the TV.

And speaking of logos, graphic design nerds like me will also notice that the 'X' of FedEx should be touching the 'E' to form the famous hidden arrow in the logo.

Henk, the original poster, wrote the people-research chapter of the Verification Handbook for Investigative Reporting and teaches workshops on verification and AI-assisted research. He also created the Image Whisperer tool, which is designed to help identify AI images.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/ai/ai-art/can-you-spot-all-the-clues-that-prove-this-ai-photo-isnt-real mvkdS4mbnzJStJvtT4irin Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ The White House's dodgy Tetris copy seems to have hit a wall ]]> The White House's attempt to turn Tetris into an anti-immigration game appears to have hit a wall. A few days ago, the US administration launched Arcade.gov with a series of low-budget video games heavily based on existing titles like Tetris, Snake and Flappy Bird.

In an apparent disregard for intellectual property rules (and previous complaints from Japan over unauthorised use of Nintendo IPs like Mario), it even used the Pac-Man, Xbox and Sega logos to promote the games. Alas, less than a week later, one title has been removed, leaving only four of the original five. It seems that the Tetris Company's complaint have carried weight.

P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall’.P.P.S. We take copyright infringement very seriously. pic.twitter.com/Fu02khRpT3September 4, 2026

When the White House launched Arcade.gov last Wednesday, some people wondered if it was intentionally trying to get sued. Sure enough, The Tetris Company published a statement on its account on X the very next day. It clarified that it was not involved in the creation of the 'Build the Wall' game, and added: "P.P.S. We take copyright infringement very seriously".

Build the Wall was basically Tetris but with a xenophobic back story and some pretty shoddy programming. “Protect the border from the coming horde" the tagline wrote. But the game didn't work properly.

How the fuck do you manage to fuck up a Tetris clone pic.twitter.com/n0kNUMwUpfSeptember 4, 2026

Ok, I built a wall all the way to the top and I lost!You’ve gotta fix that one 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/Y2deagO9G6September 4, 2026

The games that remain on the site include 'Rio Run', a grim reimagining of Snakes where border czar Tom Homan leads a line of illegal immigrants in orange jumpsuits, and Duck Hunt-like 'Trump Savings Tycoon', whose description says "Fill your Kids' Trump Accounts".

Despite the 'America first' rhetoric, the White House social media team seems to have a bit of an obsession with Japanese video game and anime characters. Previous examples include using the Pokémon theme on footage of ICE raids. But its disregard for intellectual property is likely to be worrying American companies too due to its AI-driven free for all.

While big game developers like Nintendo have a reputation for being litigious, most have adopted a surprisingly cowardly silence so far, perhaps worried about getting dragged into debates around politics. Tetris appears to have shown that a company can take a stance and make the message hit home.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/entertainment/gaming/the-white-houses-dodgy-tetris-copy-seems-to-have-hit-a-wall oXbckMReuBqqyaD7FKbwhT Wed, 09 Sep 2026 17:00:00 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ This $20,000 Master Home Agent would eat Alexa for breakfast ]]> I attended IFA in Berlin this week as a guest with UGREEN to check out the company's latest smart home innovations. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I definitely didn't have a $20,000 product on my bingo card.

I'm talking about the new UGREEN Master Home Agent, which is a local intelligence device that combines local computing, storage, and AI control all in one chunky unit. It's powered by the impressive NVIDIA Jetson Thor robotics platform and will act as a hub for smart home control by responding to natural language.

But what exactly does a Home Agent do? As someone relatively unfamiliar with this territory, I like to think of it as a super-powered Alexa. Essentially, an AI assistant you can communicate with using voice commands and delegate tasks to, like opening the (smart) curtains and controlling devices such as security cameras, smart speakers and digital photo frames.

The pricey $20K Master Agent was met with baffled laughter in the audience when unveiled at the company's showcase, but thankfully, there are two other iterations of UGREEN's Home Agent with slightly more realistic price brackets.

The HA100 model is priced at $1,799, whereas the HA100 Pro is slightly more advanced with a price tag of $5,999. This still seems like an extortionate amount of money for a company claiming to be accessible for everyday consumers, but I guess this is an extraordinary product aimed at premium households needing beefy security.

Other products announced by UGREEN at its showcase event in Berlin included 3 security cameras: the SynCare Indoor Cam ID500 Pro, the SynCare PoE Cam OD600 Pro, and the SynCare Battery Cam OD800 Pro. New additions to the ecosystem also included a UGREEN Gallery E-Paper Smart Frame, plus a Smart Speaker for "Uliya" (try asking a small child to pronounce this correctly).

The other standout product was UGREEN's new MagFlow Pro Magnetic Power Bank with liquid cooling, making it the world's first Qi2 power bank with this technology. Take a look at my video below to catch all of the UGREEN highlights from IFA 2026.

Video: Highlights from IFA with UGREEN

The main selling point of UGREEN's latest tech, and a big spotlight at IFA this year, has been on local AI technology. This prioritises user privacy and requires no internet or cloud-based software to operate, meaning your data, files, and media are stored and safeguarded securely, for your eyes only.

While I think UGREEN's new local AI agent hubs are exciting, I'd say this launch gives the impression that advanced privacy and security at this level is a luxury, as opposed to an accessible necessity for everyday consumers. In any case, the home agent era has arrived and will certainly appeal to a minority.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/tech/this-usd20-000-master-home-agent-would-eat-alexa-for-breakfast xEZeL9W86mfmbvMMNYAb7k Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:00:00 +0000 false false false <![CDATA[ Don't look at Tom Cruise’s new Digger poster if you're a perfectionist ]]> Tom Cruise's latest film, Digger, has caught the attention of movie fans thanks to his unconventional appearance that's a sharp departure from his slick, action-man Top Gun days. But it's not just Cruise's new look that's caught people's attention. It's all about the stylish movie campaign.

While there are no strict rules for creating the best movie posters, Diggers' stylised compositions and quirky typography have already earned the film some serious praise – until the latest poster dropped. If you're prone to perfectionism, I'd look away now.

Digger poster — (Image credit: Warner Bros)

The poster in question features a collage-style image of the near-unrecognisable Cruise against a coloured background. His strange, wide-legged stance and the poster's mix of warm colours and monochrome give it an unconventional retro appeal that shines in its boldness. So what's the issue? Take a look at Cruise's right leg and notice the colour blocking compared to the other side. That's right, folks, we have some asymmetrical sinning going on.

Naturally, it didn't go unnoticed by critics who sounded off on X. "All love but this not being green is pissing me tf off," one X user shared, gesturing to the colour blunder. "I didn't even notice it, and now I'm wondering how I'll sleep tonight... thanks, I guess," one disturbed commenter replied, while another added, "That tiny orange patch is doing an unreasonable amount of emotional damage."

I fixed it for you. pic.twitter.com/InATOea0klSeptember 8, 2026

I want to give the benefit of the doubt and say the stylistic decision was a conscious one, and not simply a bodged design. Given the rustic, asymmetric nature of the film's logo, the poster's imperfect design could reflect that. "You're not paying attention to the gesture of the pose, the nuance of spirit. You're too graphic design coded. You need to be more nature coded," one X user countered. "Your idea ruins the balance and the feeling of motion of the background. Let the pros do the job," another wrote.

For more poster design news, check out the Enola Holmes 3 poster that was accused of being AI slop thanks to its countless flaws or take a look at why horror movie poster design has a problem.

]]> https://www.creativebloq.com/entertainment/movies-tv-shows/dont-look-at-tom-cruises-new-digger-poster-if-youre-a-perfectionist 5YQtEmc7BFLq58FEmGjksf Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 false false false

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Video: Highlights from IFA with UGREEN