Page 139 - Sharp: The Book For Men FW21

The Endorsement
RETRO RETAIL
Fresh from reviving the ’90s colour scheme of its retro iMacs for its latest all-in-one desktops, Apple has set its sights on reviving classic architecture, too. The company recently opened its grandest flagships yet in the 19th-century Palazzo Marignoli in Rome and the 1927 Tower Theatre in Los Angeles, both restored by Foster + Partners. Ultimately, they’re a nice reminder that, while our tablets might not last until next century, a few of the buildings sketched on them might.
Braun BC21B Digital Clock
Much has been said about how the iPod and subsequent smartphones took their design cues from a portable radio that Dieter Rams designed for Braun back in 1958. That raises the question: how might Rams design a bedside phone charger? Thanks to this clock combining the classic Braun design language with a wireless charging pad, we finally have our answer. $175
HIGH FIDELITY
The MP3 era granted listening convenience at the cost of audio quality, and it’s taken all this time just for digital music services to catch back up to the high resolutions delivered by the compact discs of the ’90s. It turns out that, while we’ve been rocking out to booming bass and soaring choruses, we’ve been miss- ing quieter details like the pluck of a string or the sharp inhales between lyrics. Here’s what distinguishes each service’s new hi-fi offerings.
Apple Music Lossless:
Quality: Offers a max 24-bit/192kHz resolution.
Price: Included with all Apple Music subscriptions ($10/month).
Major perk: Select albums feature Dolby Atmos, which creates a sur- round sound effect.
Spotify HiFi:
Quality: Specs are TBD, but “CD quality” has been promised. Price: “Expect a premium on top of your sub ($10/month).
Major perk: A Year in Review sum- mary of your most embarrassing lossless listening habits.
Tidal HiFi:
Quality: Up to 24-bit/192 kHz. Price: $20/month
Major perk: Master-quality audio offers select tracks as original mas- ter recordings directly endorsed by artists or their labels.
FAIR GAME
The new console masterpieces we’ve been spending our extended WFH lunch breaks with
PlayStation 5: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart — The latest installment of this cartoonish space shooter series is the first game to re- ally demonstrate the PS5’s out-of-this-world graphics.
Nintendo Switch: Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD — A remaster of a sleeper hit orig- inally released for the Wii, it recaptures some of that old-school Ocarina magic.
POCKET DIAL
If your biggest beef with the Nintendo Switch is that the graphics are too good, this low-tech con- sole should be right up your alley. A pet project of Portland software developer Panic, the hand-held unit boasts a black and white screen with a modest 400 × 240 resolution — but also plenty of retro appeal, thanks to its charming lineup of two dozen custom (and free) games. Many are controlled via a hand-operated crank on the side, which adds a level of zany fun that we haven’t experienced since our arcade days. And thanks to an optional charging dock with a Bluetooth speaker, the console can also double as a bedside clock radio. $179 USD
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