Drafts 5 Overhauls Note-Taking App With New Themes, Editor Options and Action Features

A new version of Drafts, the simple note-taking app from Agile Tortoise, was released today. Drafts 5 stays faithful to its predecessor’s primary goal of allowing users to quickly jot down text, thoughts, ideas, and notes, and builds on these functions by introducing a ground-up rewrite of the app with a raft of new features and customization options.

Agile Tortoise has opted to release Drafts 5 as a standalone app, which means it doesn’t replace Drafts 4, but installs alongside it, allowing users to migrate previous drafts, actions and keyboard customizations from the earlier app.

Once they’ve done that, long-time users can look forward to new interface theming options – like the ability to switch between light and dark modes – and granular control of a host of draft appearance settings in the new editor. These include the ability to adjust margins, line height, line numbering, auto-correct, smart quotes/dashes, and more.

Drafts 5 also introduces new organization options with multiple tags, which can be used to filter the draft list and queries for all inbox, archived, and flagged drafts. Elsewhere, a new Focus mode disables the automatic creation of new drafts after a specific time period, allowing users to continue adding to drafts long after they were first created. Siri integration is another new addition in this version, so users can add a note to Drafts by just using their voice.

Elsewhere, there’s enhanced support for inline syntax highlighting for several different types of markup, interactive to-dos, drag and drop support, multiple extended keyboards for grouping actions into categories, a new Action Directory, and automated backup. Small changes have also been made to improve the Apple Watch complication of Drafts 5, which allows dictation and note-taking from the wrist, as well as flagging and tagging of drafts.

The comprehensive list of changes and improvements can be found on the GetDrafts.com website. Drafts for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch is a free download on the App Store [Direct Link], while Drafts Pro is a universal subscription ($20 per year / $2 per month) that unlocks more features. These include themes, custom icons, editing of actions, saving workspaces and more. According to the developer, Draft 4 will continue to be supported and available, so users can choose to migrate to Drafts 5 if and when they feel they are ready.

Tag: AgileBits
Discuss this article in our forums

It’s official: OnePlus is partnering with Marvel over an Avengers-themed OnePlus 6

The Avengers-themed variant of the OnePlus 6 will likely be exclusive to India.

OnePlus India inadvertently posted a teaser for an upcoming collaboration with Marvel Studios earlier this month, suggesting we’ll see an Avengers-themed variant of the OnePlus 6. OnePlus has now confirmed the same in a media note, stating that the company is partnering with Marvel Studios to introduce a OnePlus 6 model based on the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War movie.

OnePlus says the partnership is to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Marvel Studios, and that the collaboration “marks a step towards strengthening our association with Disney India” following the Star Wars tie-in last year. Given the wording, it looks like the Avengers-themed OnePlus 6 will be targeted at the Indian market, much like the Star Wars variant of the OnePlus 5T.

Although there’s speculation that the Avengers-themed OnePlus 6 will eventually make its way to the UK this year, that seems unlikely. OnePlus’ largest global market is India, followed by China, and it looks like the company will continue to focus its attention on these two markets for its limited edition models.

OnePlus is nothing if not strategic when it comes to product launches, and with Marvel boasting a huge fanbase in India, it’s easy to see why the company would select the subcontinent as the key market for the Avengers-themed OnePlus 6. From OnePlus:

Marvel is one of the most recognized and respected international entertainment brands in the world. The brand’s enduring success and unmatched popularity lies in its epic storytelling with human spirit. With its gigantic library of more than 8,000 characters including some of the most iconic Super Heroes in the world such as Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk and more, Marvel has amassed fans across boundaries and age-groups.

Similarly, OnePlus has amassed an overwhelming and loyal fan following owing to its unwavering focus on bringing the best technology to its users. The rapidly growing brand is constantly incorporating feedback from the community to bring nothing but the best technology to its products.

OnePlus’ association with Marvel Studios is a manifestation of the enduring love and support they have garnered from its respective community over the years with a purpose to go beyond the ordinary and achieve groundbreaking innovations in mobile technology only to create the best user experiences.

There’s little in the way of information regarding the upcoming phone, but with the recent surge in teasers and leaks, we should see the OnePlus 6 make its formal debut very soon. What would you guys like to see from an Avengers-themed OnePlus 6?

Fake ad blockers in the Chrome store had over 20 million installs

If you can’t find that ad blocker you recently installed from the Chrome Web Store, you might want to do some browser spring cleaning. Google has killed five top-ranking ad blockers after AdGuard published a report revealing they’re fake extensions with extra code that harvest info on the websites you visit. They apparently send the data they collect to remote servers in order to manipulate Chrome’s behavior. “Basically, this is a botnet composed of browsers infected with the fake adblock extensions,” AdGuard wrote in its report. “The browser will do whatever the command center server owner orders it to do.”

Fake ad blockers have been fooling people since at least 2017 — last year, 37,000 people installed a fake AdBlock Plus created by what SwiftOnSecurity called a “fraudulent developer who clones popular name and spams keywords.” Like that AdBlock Plus impostor, the ones AdGuard discovered also spammed keywords to get to the top of the search results. Their creators simply ripped off legit extensions and added a few lines of malicious code hidden inside benign-looking images — they didn’t even bother thinking of creative names for their fake products.

Apparently, people don’t care if an extension’s name is something lazy and generic like “AdRemover” and will download it, so long as it’s somewhere near the top. According to AdGuard, the fake ad blockers managed to trick over 20 million users into installing them. So, how can you avoid fake extensions going forward? AdGuard says the best way to protect yourself is to check an extension’s author and making sure that it’s a company you can trust.

[Image credit: AdGuard]

Source: Gizmodo, AdGuard

Intel cancels its smart glasses due to lack of investment

When Intel showed off its Vaunt smart glasses (aka “Superlight” internally) back in February, we had high hopes for a new wave of wearable tech that wouldn’t turn us into Borgs. Alas, according to The Information’s source, word has it that the chip maker is closing the group responsible for wearable devices which, sadly, included the Vaunt. This was later confirmed by Intel in a statement, which hinted at a lack of investment due to “market dynamics.” Indeed, Bloomberg had earlier reported that Intel was looking to sell a majority stake in this division, which had about 200 employees and was valued at $350 million.

To avoid the awkwardness that doomed the Google Glass, Intel took the subtle approach by cramming a retinal laser projector — along with all the other electronic bits, somehow — into the Vaunt’s ordinary-looking spectacle frame; plus there was no camera on it. The low-power projector would beam a red, monochrome 400 x 150 pixel image into the lower right corner of one’s visual field, thus eliminating the need of a protruding display medium.

The Verge added that the projection was designed to be non-intrusive, such that it was only visible if you glanced in that direction. Of course, this would limit the amount of detail that could be shown to the user, but it could still deliver basic notifications, text messages and navigation info.

It’s unclear how Intel’s withdrawal from the smart glasses market will affect the industry as a whole, but it does mean we’re still some time away from seeing something just as impressively stealthy. Meanwhile, other tech giants like Amazon and Apple are still working hard on their own take on smart glasses, so here’s hoping these will be worth the wait.

The following is the full Intel statement sent to Engadget:

“Intel is continuously working on new technologies and experiences. Not all of these develop into a product we choose to take to market. The Superlight project is a great example where Intel developed truly differentiated, consumer augmented reality glasses. We are going to take a disciplined approach as we keep inventing and exploring new technologies, which will sometimes require tough choices when market dynamics don’t support further investment.”

Source: The Information

Sports Illustrated TV will start streaming on more platforms

Sports Illustrated launched its $5-per-month streaming service last fall exclusively through Amazon Channels, and now it’s preparing to open up for a wider release. Soon, users will be able to subscribe directly and watch on Roku, iOS, Android and web browsers. The modestly-priced service won’t livestream games to compete with the Disney-backed ESPN+, which just went live, or the upcoming Bleacher Report Live. Instead, Sports Illustrated TV offers its studio shows, sports films and the brand’s lauded documentaries.

“As a sports fan, I am excited that there is such a healthy and a lot of different ways to engage with sports content,” Sports Illustrated TV head of programming Josh Oshinsky told Deadline. “I don’t think it’s an either-or between ESPN+ or BRLive or us. We do things that they don’t.”

Sports Illustrated TV will feature ongoing weekly studio analysis shows like The Crossover, Planet Futbol and The Line. The streaming service’s other content includes documentary series like Under the Cover, three new 2018 swimsuit specials and the first feature-length doc created specifically for SI TV, We Town.

Source: Deadline, Sports Illustrated TV

Dine out and get paid in the process with the Seated restaurant app

You don’t really need another reason to dine out. We get it —  you’re tired, you know you won’t be able to make coq au vin the same way that those French-trained chefs can, you don’t want to deal with a sink full of dirty dishes tonight (or let’s face it, tomorrow morning), and ultimately, you just want someone to bring you plate after plate of delicious food without lifting a finger. But somehow, if that laundry list of restaurant dining pros still isn’t enough to convince you that tonight is the night for you to treat yourself, perhaps Seated can do the trick. Seated is more than a reservation app — it’s a restaurant discovery app that actively rewards you for choosing to dine at some of the finest establishments in your city.

It’s a restaurant discovery app that actively rewards you for choosing to dine at some of the finest establishments in your city.

Currently active in 14 cities across the United States — Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, Providence, Rhode Island; San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. — Seated encourages local foodies to explore their neighborhood culinary gems by giving them a little extra incentive. There’s no point system, no delayed gratification. Rather, when you book a meal through Seated, you receive between $10 and $50 in rewards from brands like Amazon, Lyft, and Starbucks. So not only are you finally trying that new restaurant that everyone’s been talking about, but you’re also earning Lyft credits that you can use to get home.

While there are plenty of other restaurant reservation apps on the market, Seated believes it can make a difference by the quality of its participating institutions. As Brice Gumpel, co-founder of Seated, told Digital Trends at a recent event, customers are more likely to follow through on their Seated reservations and come in with a bigger party. Consequently, some of the most highly rated and sought after restaurants in the U.S. have taken to Seated to attract newer, younger customers (the average age of a Seated user, the company tells us, is between 23 and 38 years old).

For example, one of the more popular restaurants on Seated in New York is Le Coq Rico, the restaurant from three Michelin-starred chef Antoine Westermann. And while The New York Times gave the establishment a rave review, the poultry-focused restaurant may have had trouble convincing younger patrons to give its fine dining a try. Not so with Seated — as Anthony Battaglia, general manager of Le Coq Rico told us, “For Le Coq Rico, a fairly new restaurant in New York, partnering with Seated is a win-win deal for Seated, us, and of course our guests!”

Seated simply requires a photo of your receipt, or you can link your credit card.

While making reservations ahead of time is Seated’s bread and butter, it’s not the only way to earn with the app. This week, the company launched a new walk-in feature that allows you to simply browse nearby restaurants, and where available, select the “Walk-In” option when you’re looking for a more spontaneous meal. The end result is the same — you still receive $10 to $50 in rewards after your meal. To prove that you did, in fact, make good on your reservation, Seated simply requires a photo of your receipt, or you can link your credit card.

“Diners have more options than ever to eat a meal outside of a restaurant thanks to the influx of fast casual, meal kits, and delivery. Seated focuses on getting diners into the physical restaurant more often,” Gumpel said. “Our newest walk-in feature, now live in 14 cities, builds on this mission and provides people deciding to dine last minute with a new solution to discover a great restaurant quickly and still be rewarded for doing so.”

Seated also pledged to donate one meal to a child in need through the ShareTheMeal app for every meal booked on Seated, so your decision to dine out also positively impacts the lives of those in need. And if that alone isn’t reason enough to head to a restaurant tonight, we’re not sure what is.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best food-delivery apps that bring deliciousness to you
• These 8 Valentine’s Day apps help you plan a very special day with your sweetie
• These 100 best iPhone apps will turn your phone into a jack-of-all-trades
• 16 things you might not know Amazon’s Alexa can do for you
• 9 premium economy classes that let you stretch your legs and your dollar

Porsche’s Design Book One sale makes this luxury laptop more affordable

Porsche Design

Given that it can transform into multiple forms and comes with powerful performance, the Porsche Design Book One is the closest competitors to Microsoft’s Surface Book. Like its rival, the Book One’s premium build quality, along with the Porsche Design branding, commanded a hefty price tag. The laptop initially launched for $2,500, but retailer Newegg is now listing the notebook for just $1,499, a savings of just under $1,000, which is good until Monday, April 23.

“The Porsche Design Book One is an uncompromising reinterpretation of the 2-in-1 concept,” the company wrote. If you want a thin tablet experience, like the Surface Book, the Book One’s screen can be detached from the body. In addition to touchscreen support, it also comes with a digital pen for inking. What makes the Book One unique is that the screen is mounted on a hinge that can rotate 360 degrees, similar to HP’s design for the Spectre x360. In tablet mode with the screen rotated, but still attached to the keyboard, you will benefit from the battery that is in the screen and the battery in the keyboard base.

Even though the Book One debuted with premium hardware when it launched — Intel’s seventh-generation Core i7 CPU, 16 GB RAM, and 512GB SSD — one potential reason for the significant price drop is that the processor isn’t quite as new anymore. Computers from HP, Dell, and Lenovo, for example, are now shipping with Intel’s eighth-generation processor, which delivers a jump in performance. “The performance delta between the latest, 8th Gen Kaby Lake Refresh chips and their 7th Gen Kaby Lake predecessors feels like a two- or three-year leap,” Laptop Mag said of the latest processor.

The drop in price could allow Newegg to clear out inventory ahead of a potential refresh of the Book One. Porsche Design currently lists the laptop for $1,595, which is still a significant saving compared to the launch price. For comparison, Microsoft’s Surface Book 2 is priced at $2,499 when configured with a similar seventh-generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB memory, and 512GB of storage. The advantage of the Surface Book 2 is that you gain discrete GPU support.

At this time, it’s unclear if Porsche Design plans to refresh the Book One laptop or when such an update may be launched.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best laptops
• Dell XPS 13 vs. Dell XPS 15 2-in-1
• The best touchscreen laptops
• The lightest laptops you can buy
• The best lightweight laptops you can buy

This chessboard isn’t haunted, it just moves the pieces on its own

My chess board collects dust at home. It’s a game I have loved playing ever since my father taught it to me at a young age, but over the past few years, it has been tough finding opponents within my circle of family and friends. The digital age and the smartphone revolution have made it easier for people to find other chess players and computers to play with through digital screens — I’ve played the occasional game on airplanes and through a few apps — but it’s not the same experience as placing a chess piece on a physical black-and-white board.

Square Off is a smart chess board that offers the best of both worlds. The company behind it, InfiVention, wants to bring back the tactile sensation of the 1,500-year-old game, while still making sure it’s as easy as ever to play with anyone in the world.

It’s Wizard’s Chess!

We first saw Square Off at CES 2017, where we gave it our Best Cool Tech award. The chess pieces on the board can move without any help. Think Wizard’s Chess from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, where the pieces magically slide across the board to their designated tiles. Pieces aren’t brutally destroyed when captured, thankfully, but they are dragged off.

Wizard’s Chess from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

How does it work? There’s a reason the board is very thick: Inside, you’ll find mechanized arms and magnets that move the chess pieces to the right places. The game’s not completely hands-free like Wizard’s Chess, as you’ll need to move your own pieces, but the opponent’s pieces are controlled by artificial intelligence (A.I.), and there are various levels of difficulty to choose from when you play against the A.I.

The mechanized arms and magnet will listen to the remote player’s instructions and move pieces to the desired place.

Alternatively, you can play with friends or people online thanks to the Bluetooth-connected iOS and Android app. Square Off is powered by more than 21 million users playing on Chess.com, so you should not have problems finding an opponent. More importantly, challengers do not need a Square Off board to play against you. Make your moves on the board, and the mechanized arms and magnet will listen to the remote player’s instructions and move pieces to the desired place, whether they’re using an app or the Chess.com website. This integration is still in the works, and InfiVention said it will be ready in a few weeks. Currently, you can challenge people who are online (their board must be turned on), and they have about 3 minutes to respond before the challenge disappears.

Playing against A.I. or people online aren’t the only things you can do with the Square Off board. You can livestream international grand master tournaments and see the moves play out in real time on your board, or you can re-create games from the past to see how famous matches unfolded for chess viewing parties or educational purposes.

Playing against a computer vs. playing online

The setup process is straightforward, but the biggest downside of the Square Off board is its size. It takes up a lot of space, and you may have some trouble finding a good spot for it in your home. It needs to be plugged in to work, so that will further limit where you can place it. It also means it’s tougher to take out of the house. A power switch on the side of the board turns it on, and you’ll hear some whizzing sounds as the board gets ready.

Pair the board with the app, and then you can either choose to play with A.I. (from level 1 through 20, with 20 being the hardest) or with friends. You can also choose to play as white or black. For every move, you need to push down the piece you want to move until you hear a beep, and then push down on the square you’re moving it to until you hear another beep. If you make an illegal move, the board will make several beep sounds and you’ll have to go again. You can do complex moves such as promote pawns when they reach the end of the other board, and even castling.

Whether it’s against the A.I. or a human, this board will provide endless hours of fun for chess players of all skill levels.

The beeps from the board didn’t distract me much, and neither did the whirring sounds from the mechanized arms, but it does make a quiet game loud.

What surprised me the most is how much fun I had playing against the A.I. It felt as though I was playing with someone sitting across from me, because I was watching the A.I. move pieces on the board. It was suspenseful, waiting for the board to make its move (it’s usually quick at making decisions), and that suspense is usually followed with a groan as the board drags one of my captured pieces off.  I defeated the board easily on level 2, but I suffered a defeat at level 7. Hey, it’s been a while.

It’s a completely different sensation from playing against a computer through a digital screen, where you don’t feel much thrill or suspense.

I then played against a member of the InfiVention team, who is based in India. Challenging each other through the app was quick and easy, and the experience is very similar to playing against the A.I. The only noticeable difference is the pause after your turn. My human opponent didn’t make his moves as fast as the computer, which further enhances the gameplay because it builds up more anxiety and suspense. My heart always skipped a beat when I heard the mechanical arms moving. Whether it’s against the A.I. or a human, this board will provide endless hours of fun for chess players of all skill levels.

InfiVention told Digital Trends it expects to add an “Analyze” feature into the app soon, which will tell you what better moves you could have made during a game to help improve your skill. A messaging feature is also in the pipeline, so you’ll be able to talk to your opponents as you play.

Square Off costs $250, and it ships from India. It all started thanks to a successfully funded Kickstarter from 2016, and you can sign up on the company’s waiting list to hear when their next batch is ready for purchase.

Chess hasn’t really changed much in its 1,500 years of existence, but we’re happy to say Square Off genuinely enhances our experience of the game. It certainly will replace my dusty old chess board at home.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The PlayTable blockchain console brings digital board games back to the tabletop
• Google makes it even easier to get into A.I. with Raspberry Pi bundles
• This Japanese-style bench is easy to build and supports butts of all sizes
• ‘The Witchwood’ is the spookiest ‘Hearthstone’ expansion yet
• ’Scribblenauts Showdown’ review

Chrome’s desktop browser now supports web-based VR on the Oculus Rift

Well, how about that! Someone on Reddit discovered that Google Chrome now supports the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. As of version 66.0.3359.117, you can load up the browser’s “flags” settings (type “chrome://flags” in the address bar) and see the new “Oculus browser support” listing. If enabled, Google Chrome will use Facebook’s VR device for virtual reality. It’s typically set to default although you can manually choose to disable or enable the setting. 

“Yep, it works,” one Reddit user confirms. “Had a quick look at the Google Mars surface demo. Without the flag enabled, you just get an option for a desktop 360 view. Enable the flag though and an option to view in VR is there, and it launches it straight to the headset.” 

Google provides demos here created for WebVR, an application programming interface based on JavaScript that enables virtual reality experiences in a browser without additional software to download and install. WebVR can detect the virtual reality headset, determine its capabilities, get its position and orientation info, and render images at a framerate supported by the PC’s graphics chip and the headset. 

The news follows Google’s added support for WebVR in Chrome 61 for Daydream View headsets in September. According to Google evangelist Francois Beaufort, the browser allows users to interact with any website in virtual reality, follow links between pages, and automatically switch from 2D content to 3D-based sites that support WebVR.

Current VR headsets work with WebVR in different ways. For instance, the HTC Vive works with Firefox, Servo, and Supermedium on Windows devices while Firefox Nightly supports WebVR applications for the Vive on MacOS. With the Oculus Rift, WebVR works in Firefox, Supermedium, and now Chrome on Windows devices. 

Here is the full list: 

• HTC Vive: Firefox, Servo, and Supermedium (Windows / Firefox Nightly (MacOS) 
• Oculus Rift: Firefox, Servo, Supermedium, Chrome (Windows)
• Samsung Gear VR: Oculus Browser, Samsung Internet
• Daydream: Chrome
• Google Cardboard: Chrome
• Windows Mixed Reality headsets: Microsoft Edge / Firefox and Supermedium via SteamVR
• PlayStation VR: no support 

The cheapest way to access WebVR-supported content if you already have an Android phone is to use Google Cardboard, the company’s solution for virtual adventurers on a really tight budget. Google’s first-party entry sets you back a mere $15 whereas if your Android phone supports the Daydream platform, you could opt for the pricier Daydream View headset that typically sells for $100 (although its currently on sale for $50 until April 28). 

WebVR is the brainchild of Mozilla’s Vladimir Vukićević, introduced in 2014. The first full version didn’t become available until March 2016, presented by the Google Chrome and Mozilla VR teams. Version 1.1 arrived in April 2017 while WebVR 2.0 is expected to arrive in 2018. Along with members from Google and Mozilla, developers from Microsoft have also joined the joint WebVR collaboration. 

For now, Chrome for desktop appears to only support the Oculus Rift. So far, there is no indication that the HTC Vive and Windows Mixed Reality headsets will join Chrome’s list of supported hardware, but 2018 is still young, so we will see. 

Editors’ Recommendations

• Mozilla announces Firefox Reality, a browser for augmented and virtual reality
• The Best VR headsets
• Oculus Rift vs. Vive Pro
• Lenovo Mirage Solo with Daydream hands-on review
• Oculus Rift re-enters virtual space after bad software caused a global blackout

Here’s what we’re reading, watching, playing, and listening to this week

How we’re spending our leisure time.

Everyone has a bit of quiet downtime once in a while. Whether you’re sitting quietly at home or trying to relax on a plane or just giving your busy mind and hands a break, it’s important to relax.

A good way to do that is to read a book, listen to some music or watch a movie or show. See what’s caught our attention **for the week of April 20th*.

Ara Wagoner

Awwwww, look at the little pink deathbringer!

Sword Art Online is back, and we’ve got new characters and a new dynamic inside a world that felt criminally underexplored the last time we saw it! Sword Art Online Alternate: Gun Gale Online (boy, that’s a mouthful) is the latest entry into the popular franchise about VRMMO gaming and the multi-world hijinks its players come across. This year’s model doesn’t seem to have any “you die in the video game, you die for real” drama this year, bringing the stakes down and giving the show a bit more of a slice of life feel, which is a refreshing twist: instead of people dying for real in these beautiful fantasy games, we have a protagonist who finds an ultra-cute online avatar inside Gun Gale Online, one of the most hardcore VRMMOs on the market.

We’re only two episodes in, but it’s been a fun ride bordering on hilarious. LLENN is a newbie who only stuck around in Gun Gale Online because she’d finally found a cute, short avatar, and as a result she’s often panicked and seems to get by on amazing luck. GGO is available on Crunchyroll and Hulu, and whether you’re a gamer or not, this is a show that will make you laugh and make you whoop.

Marc Lagace

One of my all-time favorite videos on YouTube is this gem from back when the first iPhone was released, where a woman with $16K in hand buy her way to the front of the line — only to learn that store policy only allowed them to sellone phone per customer. Meanwhile, the dude at the front of the line made off an extra $800 to put towards his new phone, plus accessories — instantly became an Internet legend that day.

Flash forward to 2018 and that same dude, Marc Rebillet, is carving out a new legendary status for himself as a YouTube musician/comedian/weirdo. He’s got some real talent and has been steadily growing his channel in part by posting live-made music creations he calls “Idealogues” that are equal parts funny, bizarre, and catchy as all heck. To celebrate his channel reaching 20,000 subscribers, he live-streamed a 3-hour performance at the Deep Ellum Arts Fest which is pretty incredible to just watch unsuspecting people react to his art.

Check it out if you’re into recording music at home or simply enjoy exploring some of the weirder corners of YouTube.

Joe Maring

During MoviePass’s recent promotion that knocked down the monthly rate to just $6.95, I finally succumbed to its lustrous appeal and signed up for the service. As such, I’ve been seeing a lot more movies.

This past week, I saw Rampage and Isle of Dogs. The former is a great popcorn flick that has giant monsters wrecking Chicago and the latter is stunning work of art chronicling the story of a young boy that won’t stop at anything to find his lost best friend. This is the first and only Wes Anderson movie I’ve ever seen, but it’s already got me itching to check out the rest of his work.

Lastly, I also caught Back to the Future on the big screen last Sunday. I never got a chance to see the movie in theaters since it came out 12 years before I was born, so being able to finally do so was a pretty great experience. I tried hitting 88 Mph on the ride home, but I unfortunately didn’t make it to the 1950s. Sigh.

Jerry Hildenbrand

Work, eat, Far Cry 5. Not necessarily in that order …

It’s my favorite Far Cry yet because I get to run around and wreck cars, shoot guns, and go fishing — things I’d just love to do all day in real life. I like to think of it as Grand Theft Auto: West Virginia.

Because I’m glued to a chair for the rest of my life I play a lot of video games and usually end up preordering whatever comes next. I also usually end up disappointed, but not this time. If you’re a fan of the Far Cry series or just like to run around wrecking cars and shooting guns, it’s worth the $55.

Hayato Huseman

I started up on Netflix’s Santa Clarita Diet last weekend … I also finished it last weekend. The main plot is that Drew Barrymore’s character randomly up and dies, then reawakens as a zombie who can only eat human flesh. Sounds like a cheesy ’80s horror movie, I know, but it’s one of the funniest damn shows I’ve seen in years, and season two just dropped last month. It’s definitely worth your time.

As far as music goes, one of my new favorite albums of 2018 has to be Yeah Whatever by Owane. I love all of Owane’s music, but I think his new album is his best work yet. On top of his usual chill jazz rock vibe, there’s all kinds of crazy cool synth and saxophone arrangements.

Russell Holly

She’s been called “the next J.K. Rowling” and to be honest I find that comparison underselling the experience you get with this book. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi is an amazing story with a fascinating magical twist. It’s honestly unlike anything I’ve ever read, complete with emotional characters and a healthy dose of action.

If you’re looking for something different, and you’re a fan of fantasy, pick this up. You can get the Audiobook on sale in the Play Store if you’re not really up for a huge book like this right now.

See at Amazon

Tom Westrick

One of the few musicians I’ve seen in person is Rosanne Cash. She is the daughter of country legend Johnny Cash, and she’s a superbly talented songwriter and musician in her own right. I saw her and her full band perform in December 2014, and saw her again this past weekend — this time it was just her and her husband, John Levanthal. Both concerts were fantastic mixes of history, storytelling and music. Photography wasn’t allowed at the most recent concert, so I substituted in a video of one of Rosanne’s most recent hits.

I’ve been getting back into Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and I’m just starting season five. It’s a hilarious show, and I’m glad to see the writers tackling complex issues surrounding racism is police forces. It’s definitely worth a watch.

Your turn

What are YOU reading, watching, or listening to this week? Let us know in the comments!

Update, April 20th, 2018: This is a weekly series where we tell you what we’re into, so check back every Friday or Saturday!