Accessories

47Ronin watch straps: Where smartwatch meets Japanese art

Bridging heritage and modern technology

Published

on

Japan and its culture have drawn people like moth to a flame. It’s incandescently captivating, irresistible, magnetizing. One even embraces and allows it to seep into their lives.

That’s what happened to Tong Cheuk Fung, a Hong-Kong born, Singaporean watch strap artist whose humble beginnings started in Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital.

Living in Japan made Tong love its crafts and culture, giving birth to 47Ronin — Tong’s very own watch strap brand designed and handcrafted by marrying horology, smartwatches, and Japanese art.

Japanese art on your wrists

47Ronin’s name traces back to a chronicle from over 300 years ago, where 47 Ronins — free-roaming Samurais without a master — exhibited bravado and loyalty through vengeance against the injustice committed to their late master.

The watch straps embody this tale to its designs, catering to a certain niche resembling Ronins; free-spirited individuals leading a life according to their own philosophy.

With pieces made and sourced from Japan, 47Ronin wraps the country’s history and beauty on people’s wrists through its watch straps. Most of its pieces were made from exotic materials such as leather, Kimono textile, and Katana elements — all sourced from Japan.

Where future meets history

Traditional crafts are declining; handcrafted straps are already considered a sunset industry. The advent of futuristic wearables made the younger generation prefer minimalist and sleek designs by the likes of Apple, Samsung, and Google.

For the fashion-oriented, hybrid smartwatches are the favored statement often sold by designer brands such as Fossil, Michael Kors, Frédérique Constant, and Skagen.

Yet even with a decline in demand and appreciation, 47Ronin perseveres to preserve the craftsman’s spirit and its culture. The brand cultivated designs that work with analog timepieces and smartwatches, putting the attention to the strap rather than the technology.

The traditional craft’s heritage lives on as 47Ronin forges its historic design into modern wristwatches. The Japanese-inspired Singaporean brand worked with technology companies like Mobvoi and produced bespoke designs for Apple watches.

Personalized, artisanal straps

Since 47Ronin’s watch straps are handcrafted by Tong himself,  ordered pieces are instilled with the artist’s creative thoughts, and tailored to the customer’s wrist and watch’s components.

The Singaporean brand houses multiple collections, too, where customers can pick a design that resonates with their personality.

Most designs retail above US$ 200, entailing a personalized process — communicating to customize the lug width, length, and thickness, and sourcing rare materials — for four weeks and up to two months.

47Ronin certainly pushes itself as an exemplar of art rather than an accessory, creating a unique proposition among leather watch straps.

A heart for the environment and people

Nowadays, sustainability becomes an integral part of a business. 47Ronin partakes in the fight to a sustainable future through its up-cycling program.

The watch strap maker retrieves damaged watch straps and buckets to repair it, preserving an artisanal watch straps’ life. Old watch straps and buckles are also retrieved and reused to create new products.

Moreover, 47Ronin collaborated with 20 local watchmakers in Singapore as a means to lift each other up, as businesses and online sales have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

Shop custom, artisanal watch straps at 47Ronin’s online store with free worldwide shipping.

Accessories

Anker’s soundcore Liberty 5 Pro series is powered by an AI chip

Earbuds that think

Published

on

Anker has just unveiled the soundcore Liberty 5 Pro series earbuds in New York during Anker Day. They are available in the Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max variants.

Available colors are:

  • Pro Max: Midnight Black, Titanium Gold
  • Pro: Pearl Blue, Midnight Black, Pearl White, Rose Gold

These latest TWS earbuds feature Anker’s first neural-net chip, the Thus AI chip. This breakthrough architecture introduces neural-net compute-in-memory processing.

It means AI computation directly inside NOR Flash Memory is enabled, instead of continuously transferring data between memory and processor.

Thus applies compute-in-memory principles inspired by the human brain, allowing AI models to process information where the data already resides.

Earbuds that think

Applying the Thus AI chip to the new soundcore Liberty 5 Pro series, Anker has integrated an advanced AI-powered 10-sensor fusion system.

This system combines eight MEMS microphones and two bone conduction sensors to isolate the user’s voice from environmental noise in real time.

Such system continuously cross-references airborne audio with vibrations captured directly from the speaker’s cranial structure. The result is significantly clearer voice isolation during calls, even in loud environments.

The Liberty 5 pro series also debuts Adaptive ANC 4.0. It is soundcore’s newest intelligent noise cancellation platform.

This system dynamically adjusts cancellation depth across varying environmental frequencies, while also minimizing pressure fatigue commonly observed on traditional ANC systems.

Integrated smart display

Both variants of the Liberty 5 Pro series come with Control at a Glance, an integrated smart touch display built directly into the charging cases.

Users can switch between ANC modes, customize EQ settings, manage playback, and answer calls from the case.

The Pro Max variant, in particular, comes with a 1.78-inch AMOLED smart screen which has an AI Note-Taker for AI-powered recording, real-time transcription, speaker identification, intelligent summaries, and more.

Furthermore, both models support three-device multipoint connectivity, IP55 dust and water resistance, Bluetooth 6.1, and up to 28 hours of total battery life.

Continue Reading

Accessories

CASETiFY x Tamagotchi brings back nostalgia

Retro pets meet modern accessories

Published

on

CASETiFY Tamagotchi

From phone cases to luggage, the collaboration turns the classic virtual pet into a lifestyle collection

CASETiFY has announced a new collaboration with Bandai Namco Entertainment inspired by Tamagotchi.

The collection mixes retro digital pet nostalgia with modern accessories. Designs feature bright colors, pixel-inspired graphics, and classic Tamagotchi characters.

First released in 1996, Tamagotchi became a global hit. The interactive virtual pet encouraged players to care for their digital companion. More than 100 million units have been sold worldwide.

The new collaboration includes phone cases, tech accessories, straps, charms, and customizable luggage.

One of the highlights is the CASETiFY Travel Tamagotchi luggage collection. Customers can choose their favorite Tamagotchi character and add custom text using the franchise’s signature font style.

 

The 21-inch Carry-On Bounce Suitcase comes in Primrose Pink and Cobalt Blue.

The collection also introduces a CASETiFY-exclusive Tamagotchi device. It features a custom CASETiFY shell design.

Fans can also pick up the Tamagotchi Plush Earbuds Pouch designed by Bandai. CASETiFY is also offering themed straps and charms for added personalization.

Accessories include a 3-Way Strap with adjustable lengths and a silicone phone charm with a detachable plush accessory. A Tamagotchi-shaped metal charm hook is also available.

CASETiFY is also launching Tamagotchi Chase Cards alongside the collection. The collectible cards come in seven rarity levels. These range from Common to Supreme Ultra Rare.

To celebrate the launch, CASETiFY will host activations at its Shibuya PARCO store in Tokyo and its Dosan flagship store in Seoul.

Visitors can try the exclusive CASETiFY Tamagotchi device and enjoy interactive photo activities.

Price and availability

The CASETiFY x Tamagotchi collection starts at US$36. It launches on May 29 through CASETiFY and select CASETiFY STUDiO stores worldwide.

Continue Reading

Accessories

The UGREEN Nexode Air 65W is the only charger I travel with now

Why carry five chargers when one does everything?

Published

on

Traveler guilt sets in the moment you open your carry-on and realize half of it is occupied by cables.

Not clothes. Not souvenirs. Cables. A brick for the laptop, an adapter for the tablet, a dongle for the country you’re visiting because you forgot it has different outlets, and a portable battery that is, somehow, the size of a hardcover novel.

I used to be that person. Then the UGREEN Nexode Air 65W happened, and I’ve been reformed.

The case for a single standard

This charger is roughly the size of a golf ball. It weighs 72.9 grams — lighter than most lipstick cases — and yet it pushes enough power to fast-charge a MacBook Air or an iPad Pro without breaking a sweat.

It measures 33 x 31 x 40.4 millimeters, which means it disappears into any bag with an almost smug confidence. In the best way.

For the outlet you didn’t plan for

You know that crowded café in an airport lounge where the only available outlet is suspiciously close to a stranger’s elbow? The Nexode Air is designed for exactly that scenario.

It runs on universal voltage — 100 to 240 volts — so whether you’re in Singapore or Santorini, it simply works. No adapter required. (And we all know the adapter is always the first thing we forget.)

ThermalGuard technology manages heat during the charging process, so your expensive devices are protected from voltage spikes and thermal stress even when you’re running on your third hour of a delayed flight.

The single USB-C port is a design philosophy in itself. One cable. One brick. That’s one less thing to think about.

Less bulk, same power

The bulky laptop brick that came in the box of your MacBook is retired.

The Nexode Air handles your laptop and tablet both, which means that space is now available for the things that actually matter — like that extra pair of shoes you were debating.

Travel isn’t about packing for every possible scenario. It’s about packing for the life you actually live. And this little charger, this impossibly compact overachiever, makes moving through the world feel a little more effortless.

The UGREEN Nexode Air 65W Charger retails for US$ 39.99 and now available in the United States through the UGREEN Official Store and Amazon.

Continue Reading

Trending