A year ago, I stunned the world by revealing a shocking truth. Two televisions in one place are superior to one. And a third TV can make the room even more beautiful. Here’s more. It’s not my intention to talk about the possibility of adding a fourth television to my living space (at least not yet). But I am here to share the truth of the three-TVs lifestyle — and how it has, at times, made me question my decision to do it at all.
While three television sets in a single room is clearly the next evolutionary step for our species, maybe humans aren’t ready for that kind of power just yet. Maybe, when Icarus flew too close to the sun, it wasn’t the wings of Daedalus that were flawed, but Icarus himself. It was both. )
To catch you up, my wife and I have perfected the modern living room. Our home has a single entertainment centre with two TVs on each wall and one smaller TV that is located above them and below them. The small TV is hooked up to a modest soundbar, and we have what feels like 3,000 remotes scattered around us at any time. Every TV has its own Roku and is used in the following way: My TV plays games (left), while my wife watches a movie or shows (right). It’s the Triforce of living room entertainment.
Image: Ryan Gilliam
But living in this wonderful environment has not always been easy. I am humble enough to admit that my errors. This is especially true in cases, like this one, where the error is in human attention spans, not my own design. I have defended myself against criticisms of how noisy my setup is, and how irritating the remote location. These are all fair points that were put out there by cowardly voices who don’t want to accept the TTTVVV lifestyle. But it’s time to break bread with you on this, internet: Do we really need three TVs?
In the last two years I have noticed a decline in my attention span. Sure I’ve watched and re-watched many shows while playing and re-playing games. It’s been a lot more than the average because I always kill two birds with one. But I’ve often questioned how much I’ve been able to enjoy these shows that are on in the background, and I’ve definitely ridden off a cliff or two in Elden Ring because I was too engrossed in what was on the third TV.
Perhaps it’s age, or just the constant prattle of information from a million different sources, but at times I feel overloaded. I often enjoy the moments in the living room when I’m alone and I can just put on a game and ingest its story without anything else going on. I can focus on a single thing for just a few hours and enjoy it as a whole piece, not something broken up and smashed together like a kid getting a spritz of each kind of soda from the gas station fountain.
But this problem isn’t limited to three TVs. I was looking at my phone while watching movies with my dad 15 years ago. When I had only two televisions, I found irrelevant information on the internet. I added multiple monitors for work and school years ago, all in the name of “productivity,” despite mostly using the second monitor to watch YouTube videos while I play Destiny. It’s an attention span issue, and not one that I invented. My setup is simply an extension of that mindset, and I’ve already begun to find ways to push back against it.
Over recent months I have started to assess which shows and games I care about without being distracted. When I’m playing a game for review, or I’m just interested in its story, I won’t play something on the top TV. If my wife is playing a game on the other TV, she might put in headphones and listen to a podcast. I might play something less stimulating while my wife watches a TV show. Then, I will switch to something that I want to concentrate on when I am alone.
Image: Ryan Gilliam
I will combine old games and new shows. Or I will rewatch an episode I know every word from while learning something new. To make it difficult to glance at my phone while watching a movie, and to not give random commentary, which is also a bad idea, I will go to the cinema to see an anticipated film. I watched Moon Knight without playing anything in the background — just me, Oscar Isaac, and IMDB open on my phone, as god intended. It was great fun. But I also watched every episode of Hell’s Kitchen last year while replaying Breath of the Wild and watching my wife play The Witcher 3 for the 50th time. These experiences have been a wonderful experience for me. One isn’t possible without multiple TVs, but both are possible with my setup.
When I told my wife how much I enjoyed watching Moon Knight without distraction, I shared that sometimes I wondered if three TVs was the way to go. She said, “Yeah it’s amazing, you know that.” And she’s right. It doesn’t matter if I have a smaller setup. I can adapt to the amount of setup that I use. We’re all distracted by something, and that’s OK. There’s no right or wrong way to absorb media that you care about. I can insist that you have to keep your eyes glued to the screen while watching The Shining, one of my favorites, but if you enjoyed watching it in the background, what’s the difference? This isn’t school, and there won’t be a test following the screening.
Icarus burns even when he has the right wings. What could’ve saved Icarus — and what can save all of us — is the self control to moderate our own ambition.
Samsung Electronics Launches #YouMake Campaign, Putting Customization and Connectivity in Everyday Lives – Samsung Global Newsroom
#YouMake offers new ways to help users make the most out of their devices to suit their needs and lifestyles
Samsung Electronics today unveiled the #YouMake campaign, a global marketing platform that allows consumers to take the lead with device customization.
It is a project, first announced at CES 2022 earlier this year, with the ambitious goal of empowering users around the world to reflect their evolving lifestyles across their devices. It expands Samsung’s Bespoke vision beyond home appliances and brings it to life in the company’s smartphones and large-screen devices. The #YouMake platform offers a better way of personalization and connectivity through a customized control enabled by SmartThings1 IoT solutions.
To kick off the campaign, Samsung has launched the #YouMake page on Samsung.com, introducing a lineup of products that can be personalized to fit users’ style, space and daily routine. The list of applicable products ranges broadly from smartphones, TVs, refrigerators to wearables and more, such as the Galaxy Z Flip3 Bespoke Edition, Galaxy Watch4 Bespoke Edition, Bespoke Refrigerators, The Frame, The Freestyle and Samsung Smart Monitor M8. The website also offers Samsung.com-exclusive colors for the Smart Monitor M8 and Galaxy S22. The website allows users to design their own products and save/purchase their final designs.
“We strive to create a world where technology is simple and intuitive. A future where connected experiences bring people together and unlock new value in our lives and society,” said Jong-Hee (JH) Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of Samsung Electronic’s Device eXperience (DX) Division in his CES 2022 keynote speech. “We believe that everyone should be able to customize their devices and that cutting-edge technologies should be more connected and intuitive.”
The #YouMake campaign will roll out across eight countries2 by May before expanding to other countries throughout the second half of this year. Under the #YouMake campaign, Samsung plans to offer continuous services and benefits through virtual experiences, customer participation events and more by utilizing top metaverse platforms.
1 While the available technology, functions and features may vary by country, SmartThings is the hub application allowing controls of a wide range of Samsung devices as well as Samsung compatible ones.
2 The #YouMake campaign will start off in the following countries: France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Unites States and South Korea.
Connect and Customize Your World With Samsung’s #YouMake Campaign – Samsung Global Newsroom
Samsung Electronics recently rolled out its #YouMake campaign, a campaign centered around customizing the color, design and even the combination of your Samsung products according to your lifestyle.
You can make your Samsung experience unique across all of its products, from refrigerators and televisions to smartwatches and smartphones. This campaign goes beyond expanding product choices. It allows you to enjoy personalized and connected products experiences via the Internet-of-Things-powered SmartThings platform.
The #YouMake campaign empowers consumers to take the lead in customizing their own product experiences however they want. Samsung Newsroom explored the ways that #YouMake can transform your space using a variety of devices. This campaign is designed to encourage you to create seamless experiences for your life.
#Scene 1, Transform Wherever You Work Into A Home Office
Due to the pandemic, the traditional ideas of how and where we work have fundamentally changed. Many people today work remotely or on hybrid working schedules, where they commute to and from the office. Now, #YouMake offers another opportunity to revolutionize how we approach the way we work at home. By connecting your smart devices through SmartThings, workers can create a new home office culture by breaking the stereotype that “work equals computer.”
Through #YouMake, you can start the day by working in your study with your Smart Monitor M8, but then step into the living room for a conference call using your Neo QLED TV. The large display gives you a feeling of being at a meeting. You can easily see the agenda, and your fellow workers’ faces. For materials that need to be shared during the meeting, you can quickly share them through your Galaxy S22.
With SmartThings’ screen compatibility, connectivity, and file sharing features, it is easy to choose the right products for your different tasks.
#Scene 2, Customize Your Home With Design That Speaks to You
Your home should reflect your personal style and personality. You can customize colors and finishes for home appliances, like your TV, refrigerator and smartwatch.
You can sync style across all your devices with #YouMake.
For instance, if you’ve already chosen Bespoke Refrigerator panels to match your kitchen’s bright, pink-hued wallpaper, you can add a further splash of color to your home by installing The Frame and choosing bezel colors that coordinate with the Bespoke Refrigerator.
When hosting guests, it is possible to choose the right painting and then display it using The Frame. For a fashionable look, you can choose a Galaxy Watch strap with matching watch faces for an elegant and stylish appearance that suits any style.
#Scene 3, Make Any Get-Together a Night To Remember
With the #YouMake campaign you can turn any place into a party or movie theatre. The Freestyle, a lightweight and easy-to-carry portable screen, can display a large movie screen or provide mood lighting for parties. Simply turn on Ambient Mode on The Freestyle to display images that elevate the atmosphere and transform the vibe of the party.
If you’re in the mood to stream a video from your favorite OTT platform, you can also connect The Freestyle to your Galaxy S22 using the Tap View feature to utilize the UI of a Samsung Smart TV. With 360-degree surround sound that fills up the entire space, you can enjoy truly high-quality sound from anywhere.
Samsung is offering consumers the opportunity to take the lead in tailoring their product experiences to fit their lifestyles. Learn more about these compelling connected device experiences by following Samsung’s #YouMake campaign.
Realme shares Realme UI 3.0 update roadmap for Q2 2022
After the first round of Realme UI 3.0 updates based on Android 12 in Q1 2022 (some phones received the OTA as early as December), it’s now time for the second batch. But before the finalized version of the software arrives, there’s going to be early access for some Realme smartphone owners to try out and test the new OS.
Starting this month, Realme 8 5G, 8s 5G and the Narzo 30 5G should enter the early access, whereas next month, Realme 9i and X7 owners should expect the firmware.
June will be more packed with the Realme X3, X3 SuperZoom, Narzo 30 Pro 5G and the 9 5G getting the early access.
We would like to remind users that this version is in early access and will only be available to selected users. The stable version of Realme UI 3.0 is still under development and will arrive once all major bugs are squashed. There are no timeframes.
Top 10 designs to help create the ultimate bedroom of your dreams
Our bedroom is our haven, our safe space, to which we rush after a bad day at work, or simply a bad day in general! I love cozying up in my bed, snacking, and watching some Netflix, with my favorite PJs on! So, making my bedroom as comfortable as possible is a major priority for me! One way to do this is to fill it with modern designs that make life easier and more enjoyable. Hence, we’ve curated a collection of products that work perfectly for your bedroom! From a smart bed that comes with a 70-inch retractable screen to a ‘cuddle cave’ for you to snuggle into, these designs will add a whole lot of value to your bedroom, and make it whole! These products will make you feel so good in your bedroom that you won’t want to leave it.
1. The Hariana Tech Smart Ultimate Bed
The Hariana Tech Smart Ultimate Bed has an integrated reclining massage chair with a remote, a built-in Bluetooth speaker, a bookshelf, a reading lamp, an air cleaning system, an area to plug in and charges your devices, a foot-stool that opens up for extra storage, and a pop-up desk for the ultimate WFH setup, Netflix marathon or cozy reading hours. You will also find an SD card slot and an auxiliary port as well as a USB port in the sound system. Another interesting detail about the Hariana bed is a password-protected safe box for you to store your most precious belongings – for me, it would be my passport and snacks!
Why is it noteworthy?
Do you know what it is like to have to get up every now and again to do things before getting into relaxation mode? This bed is designed with everything that you need in order to unwind. This bed is the perfect way to relax after a hard day at work.
What we like
Features a password-protected safe box
Sufficient storage spaces integrated into the bed
What we dislike
Hefty price tag
Unsuitable for homes with space constraints
2. Floof
Initially designed for our furred friends, the designer has created two human-sized Floofs for the perfect at-home getaway, even for just a few hours. You can simply take a break, either alone, with a friend, or with snacks, then curl up in a comfortable place to enjoy the rest of your day.
Why is it noteworthy?
Most of us had something like a fortress of solitude when we were kids, whether they were made from stacked boxes, piles of pillows, or sheets held up by ropes. As we grew older, we gave up those sacred places in exchange for a simple blanket and pillow. There is no reason not to have that comfortable and comforting space again, no matter how young or old you are. That’s the very tempting proposition that these “cuddle caves” are making if you don’t mind looking like a human inari sushi in the process. You’re not trying to escape the world’s judgment eyes, but you are.
What we like
Provides a ‘getaway’ within your own home
Made to vegan specifications so that it can be used by any and all people
What we dislike
No complaints!
3. The Google Nest Ceiling Fan
Just like our appliances, ceiling fans have also received smart treatment in the past. The concept Nest Ceiling fan is a productive and more interesting take on the other smart fans that can only be turned on and off through a smart assistant. The Google Nest ceiling fan has been updated to be a smart hub. It would connect all smart devices in your home.
Why is it noteworthy?
The concept fan is a ceiling fan that has a light, smoke detector, smart speaker and thermostat. It can be controlled through Google Assistant/app on one device. This will make it easy to control the fan from any place in your house. This fan, in addition to providing cool air, is smartly designed and offers a great balance between performance and design. It can also disperse your music in any direction you choose by simply pressing a button, or using your voice commands.
What we like
Leaves you with a single contact point to create an interesting smart home setup
Embedded with a thermostat to automate the central heating system or an integrated smart smoke detector
What we dislike
No complaints!
4. Non Square
Introducing Non Square, the team of designers explains that, “It [pursues] the beauty of irregularity within, as opposed to regularity on the outside.” From the outside, Non Square sports a minimalist, stainless steel appearance that seems like a nondescript side table dressed as a cube. A closer look and Non Square’s larger purpose is revealed.
Why is it noteworthy?
Functionality typically stems from a product with a long shelf life and the ability to execute its primary purpose. Hyunjun Yu and Soojin Jung created Non Square. This furniture set combines side tables with stools in a stainless-steel hexahedron design.
What we like
Hidden storage compartments
Modular design
What we dislike
The product’s bulky + metallic aesthetics may complement only certain living spaces
5. Acrobat
Acrobat is a multifunctional storage piece that combines the safekeeping components of an entryway table with the hanging function of a coatrack.
Why is it noteworthy?
As we continue to downsize our living spaces, the more multifunctional our furniture is, the better. Smaller spaces don’t necessarily have to mean less living space. Multifunctional furniture helps make more room for living while taking care of a lot of our household tasks. We usually have our own system of arranging EDC items like key rings, wallets, and phones. Coat racks and entry tables often take up the bulk of these organizational tasks. It is important to find multifunctionality in your coat rack design in order to keep our homes clutter-free. Acrobat, a multifunctional coat rack designed by Joao Teixeira, combines the storage components of an entryway table with those of a coat rack.
What we like
The metal tube tops can also be used to hang clothes or hats without the need for a hanger
The wooden hull that interlinks the beams offers a safe space to store EDC items like wallets, phones, and keyrings
What we dislike
Can occupy a substantial amount of space
6. The Pilea Lamp
The Pilea Lamp’s design takes direct inspiration from the Chinese money plant, also known as the Pilea plant – an indoor plant often seen in contemporary Asian homes, native to the Sichuan and Yunnan regions of China. It rests on a wooden base, with dowel-style wooden stems sprouting from within. At the end of the stems are the lamp’s leaves, fashioned from diffusion filters pulled from TV screens.
Why is it noteworthy?
There’s a beauty in the Pilea Lamp’s lack of a definite structure. The leaves are haphazardly arranged, with a soft LED bulb just sitting between the stems like a piece of treasure on the forest floor. It’s almost like looking at sunlight through the Pilea Lamps’ organic design. The lamp’s organic design has an undeniable sense of warmth and challenges the structured, engineered approach of standard light fixtures and lamp designs.
What we like
Unique organic form
Focuses on a nature-inspired design in an unconventional way
What we dislike
Some users may feel it occupies way too much space for a lamp
7. Ember
Ember is a compact electric heater with integrated smart features that allow you to heat your home from anywhere.
Why is it noteworthy?
Inspired by midcentury modern design trends, Koleda created Ember with an elegant bronze velodrome trim and stainless-steel grille. The tastefully subdued appeal of Ember allows it to fit into any living area, from a boho minimalist-style bedroom to a living room filled with Bauhaus aesthetics. The versatile nature of Ember even moves past its looks to pack a lot of punch into such a compact build. Equipped with a heating capacity of 1’200 Watts, Ember can heat up to 215 feet with ease. Inside Ember’s cylindrical center, a ceramic heating element kickstarts the job by evenly distributing instant heat via a silent and powerful built-in fan.
What we like
Features an accompanying smartphone app that allows users to control their home heating from anywhere
Real-Time Cost Monitoring and Smart Scheduling helps users stay on top of their bills and optimize the heating schedule of their Ember devices
What we dislike
No complaints!
8. Storm Lamp
The beauty of the Storm Lamp by Julia Kononenko is that there isn’t any method to its mad design. You can arrange the panels in your own way. The Storm Lamp by Julia Kononenko is about beauty and chaos. The lamp looks almost like an abstract tornado and is made entirely from laser-cut plywood pieces that can be left plain or black.
Why is it noteworthy?
When assembled together, they create a 3D form using the Gestalt visual law of continuity. The jagged edges illuminate and appear like lightning bolts, amplifying the product’s originality!
What we like
The lamps are available in both hanging and floor formats
The jagged edges themselves illuminate to look like chaotic lightning strikes
What we dislike
No complaints!
9. The 4PM Chaise Lounge Chair
Comprised of flat and curved features, the 4PM Chaise Longue Chair is designed to create comfort out of hard material. Constructed in either Douglas fir or cherry wood, the only upholstered component of the 4PM Chaise Longue Chair is the leather headrest. Balanced on top of the backrest, Massproductions held the headrest in place with a steel weight.
Why is it noteworthy?
Massproductions is a slow furniture company, don’t let the name fool you. Since the furniture company only develops a few pieces every year, the ones that go into production guarantee a top-quality build and durable life span. Massproductions is proud of its industrial manufacturing process that is efficient, sustainable and highly-quality. Massproductions’ designers are committed to the vision. The company’s founder, Chris Martin, developed the 4PM Chaise Longue Chair to reinforce the company’s commitment to quality and produce an ergonomic, long-lasting chair for much-needed R&R.
What we like
Sustainable
Ergonomically designed
What we dislike
Doesn’t seem very comfortable to sit on
Space consuming
10. Jungle
Most commonly in homes across the world, indoor gardens are a form of biophilic design. Interpreting biophilia in a similar way, Jungle, designed by Poland-based KABO & PYDO design studio, is a planter that can hang from the ceiling and also function as a semi-flush mount light fixture.
Why is it noteworthy?
Although the design is simple, Jungle’s beauty lies in its simplicity. Defined by a bulbous, capsule-shaped centerpiece, Jungle is a half-planter and half-light fixture. A capsule-shaped planter emits warm golden light, which is diffused by an opaque body. An opaque body diffuses light, softens it and enhances plant life. It also provides a canvas on which to hang teeming greenery.
What we like
The simple form emphasizes the beauty of the plants
The lamp emits a soft and soothing light
What we dislike
You need to stand on a stool or a little ladder to water the plants
Xiaomi just confirmed its latest Civi phone is launching later this week. The Xiaomi Civi 1S will be unveiled on April 21 at 2PM China time and we’ve got some official images of the phone to fill us in. Civi 1S will come in white and purple colors. The new device does match up with the look of last year’s Xiaomi Civi and based on previous rumors the new phone will offer a chipset upgrade – the Snapdragon 77G8+ SoC.
Xiaomi Civi 1S posters
We’ve also heard talk of faster charging speeds here with support for 67W top-ups now compared to the last gen’s 55W speeds. Xiaomi is yet to provide any spec official details so we’ll have to wait and see what upgrades are in.
Realme GT Neo3 with 150W fast-charging starts global rollout on April 29
Realme is planning a new launch in India, merely days before bringing the vanilla GT2 on May 4. The Realme GT Neo3 is scheduled to launch on April 29 in the Asia-Pacific country, marking the beginning of its global rollout.
The press release that confirmed the date refers to it as “the D-Day”, a tasteless way of reducing the historic significance of its name.
The Realme GT Neo3 was first mentioned at MWC 2022 by company CEO Madhav Sheth, and it took the brand a month before making the phone official, launching it first in China. It has 150W fast charging, which is the fastest currently in a smartphone, and also has an 80W option that comes with a larger battery capacity.
The phone’s quick charging feature isn’t the best. It also features a Le Mans-themed painting that was featured in Indian teasers. This means it will be available in India. Additionally there’s a 6. 7″ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, a 50MP main camera and Android 12 out of the box.
Realme GT Neo3 in Black, Silverstone and Le Mans colors
The price of the Realme GT Neo3 in China starts from CNY1,999, but the 150W version is at least CNY2,599. This translates to $315 and $405, respectively, meaning India is likely to see the fancy variant sell for at least INR30,000, according to the current exchange rates.
Realme Q5i unveiled with 90Hz AMOLED and Dimensity 810
Realme tool the wraps of its Realme Q5i two days before its grand April 20 event and it brings some enticing specs for a midranger. The device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 810 chipset and can be paired with 4/6GB RAM and 128GB built-in storage.
Realme Q5i in black and blue
There’s a 6.58-inch AMOLED screen on the front with FHD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. Realme went with a waterdrop notch cutout for the 8MP selfie cam. The back houses a 13MP main cam alongside a 2MP depth helper. You also get a 4,800 mAh battery which supports 33W charging while the software side is covered by Realme UI 3.0 on top of Android 12.
Realme Q5i comes in black and blue colors. The 4/128GB trim is going for CNY 1,199 ($188) while the 6/128GB model will sell for CNY 1,299 ($204). The device is already on pre-order in China.
The vivo X80 phones finally got a date for their official announcement. Alongside a teaser that showcases the vivo X80 Pro+ design the company revealed its next flagships are coming on April 25.
The vivo X80 Pro+ will stick to its quad-cam setup where one of the shooters has a periscope lens, but the arrangement is different – it is, in fact, in line with the vivo X Note and vivo X Fold rear design.
Rumors say the phone will be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, but we are also expecting a vivo X80 Pro with Dimensity 9000 and a vanilla vivo X80.
We’ll probably see more teasers over the next few days, adding new pieces to our puzzle.
The Samsung Galaxy A53 domination of our trending chart continues for the fourth week in a row, and it’s more good news for Samsung as its Galaxy S22 Ultra flagship has overtaken the Redmi Note 11 for the second spot.
We then see the Galaxy A73 climb to fourth, ahead of newly unveiled vivo X Note and the Poco F4 GT, which just entered the rumor mill.
The Xiaomi 12 Pro gained a spot to place seventh, while the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max slid to eight position.
The Samsung Galaxy A52s is on its way out of the market, but it still clings to our chart, placing ninth, ahead of the returning Galaxy A13.
We wave goodbye to the Realme 9, OnePlus 10 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, which means we are down to just three makers in the top 10, after having a far more diversified chart over the past few weeks.
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