XPPen's Pilot Pro is the brand's first dedicated editing console, and it makes a confident debut. It packs 16 customizable buttons, three dials, and an all-way joystick into a compact controller built for one-handed, eyes-free operation. The premise is straightforward: let the left hand manage the shortcuts so the right stays on the mouse and your eyes stay on the screen.
He works out a lot more than I do, and he has yet to find any reason to complain about the middle option. It comes with the same heads as the Pro, rocks a similar four hour battery life, and is even lighter by half a pound. All at the expense of extra power. If that sounds like a worthy trade, consider the Hypervolt 3 instead.
Ploopy, the Canadian open-source hardware company known for its lineup of trackballs and trackpads, has changed that with the Bean. It's a standalone external pointing stick that connects over USB-C and sits flat on a desk. Think of it as a TrackPoint you don't have to buy a ThinkPad to access, with a few deliberate improvements added to address the weaknesses that nub has always had.
Logitech's latest productivity power-house updates one of the greatest mice of all time with smoother materials, a repair-friendly design and a haptic motor for phone-like vibrations on your desktop. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. The MX Master 4 is the latest evolution in a line of pioneering mice that dates back more than 20 years
Walking the show floor in Vegas last month revealed a clear shift away from novelty toward utility. The best announcements were the ones that respected your workflow, your attention, and the physical space you live in. These five designs emerge from that ethos. They are tools that bend technology to fit your life rather than demanding you rearrange yourself around yet another screen or charging cable.
The stationery world has long looked to Japan for innovation, and planning enthusiasts know this better than anyone. Japanese design philosophy brings together minimalism, functionality, and thoughtful engineering to create tools that transform mundane tasks into moments of creative joy. These aren't just accessories that sit pretty on your desk. They're carefully crafted instruments that respect your workflow, elevate your planning rituals, and make every stroke of the pen feel intentional.
In the 1950s, the Air Force designed cockpits for the average pilot by measuring thousands of pilots and calculating the average for ten key physical dimensions-height, arm length, torso size, etc. They assumed most pilots would be close to average in most dimensions. When researchers actually checked, they found that out of 4,063 pilots, exactly zero were average on all ten dimensions.
Settling in for "just one more run" usually means your thumbs, wrists, or forearms start complaining long before the game is done. Most controllers are fixed objects that expect your body to adapt, which can lead to repetitive strain or numbness. You either push through the discomfort or take breaks that feel like interruptions, but rarely can you adjust the hardware itself to match how your hands actually feel in that moment.
Vertical mice promise ergonomic relief. MMO mice deliver tactical control. Pick one, because the market says you can't have both. Except SOLAKAKA apparently didn't get that memo. The E9 Pro arrives as the first vertical MMO mouse, featuring a 45 degree ergonomic grip alongside a 10 button thumb panel that would make World of Warcraft players weep with joy. It feels like the peripheral equivalent of discovering your favorite coffee shop also serves excellent ramen.
One of the most powerful moments in the creative process is seeing an idea transform into something real. For a child, that moment carries even greater weight. It builds confidence, validates imagination, and reinforces the belief that creativity is not limited by age. Chair for Kids, a participatory design project developed by Taekhan Yun, captures this experience by translating children's playful and imperfect drawings into fully functional and usable chairs that children can see, touch, and use every day.
Ritchey's seat of choice is the Cooler Master Ergo L, a gaming chair that doubles as a serious office workhorse. While it's marketed to gamers, Ritchey points out that many high-level gaming chairs are essentially well-designed ergonomic office chairs with cool color accents and aesthetic details. While you're essentially paying for style on top of substance, the substance itself is actually real.
Working from home has become commonplace, and having the proper equipment around your home workspace can be the difference between an inviting workday and an uncomfortable slog through your daily tasks. Readily available are gadgets that make working from home easier, as well as gadgets to boost productivity when working from home. They range from ergonomic furniture to electronics you can put to use on a daily basis.
