Spring and summer rolling around almost always makes me want to reset something in my routine.

A few years ago, it was growing broccoli sprouts in a jar. Getting the Auk Mini over Christmas felt like the natural next step.

From sprouts to something more

Starting with sprouts was easy. After having them at a family gathering, it clicked that I could actually grow something, even in our small apartment. Anyone, including my husband can do it on the kitchen counter, and upkeep takes less than a minute a day. Watching something grow and actually eating it made me realize how nice it is to have fresh greens around all the time.

The Auk Mini builds on that. Instead of just one thing in a jar, now I have herbs growing consistently at home.

Getting started was easy

This was the part I was most unsure about, but it ended up being very straightforward. Setup took a few minutes, the instructions were clear, and nothing felt overly technical. The kit comes with everything you need to start: Auk Mini itself, seeds for planting, coco fiber, and nutrients that you add to the water to support both growth and flavor.

Once it’s up and running, it mostly takes care of itself. The lighting system handles what the plants need throughout the day, and the watering system keeps everything consistent. I have been away on trips, and I still come home to herbs that are healthy and fresh, waiting to be trimmed and added to my food.

It fits real life and small spaces

Fresh herbs growing beside my microwave

Living in a New York apartment, space is limited. While there are community gardens I could participate in, it’s not as convenient as having access to your own, especially when you’re in the middle of a snowstorm or a heatwave.

The Auk Mini sits beside my microwave, on a table that used to be my desk. It doesn’t feel like I added a new project to my life – it just blends in. I have the black and walnut version, which works well with the rest of my space, but it also comes in white, with oak or cork as other finishes, if you want something lighter.

Watching and competing

My husband and I set it up together and turned it into a challenge: who would harvest first?

Our kit came with basil and parsley. He planted basil, which sprouted first. I took on parsley, which grew much slower and wasn’t ready for harvest until a little over six weeks later. The competition was a small thing, but it made the whole process more fun. We started paying attention to growth day by day, and it’s satisfying when you finally get to use what you grew.

One thing we learned pretty quickly is that different plants grow at different speeds, which can make lighting placement a little tricky in a shared setup like the Auk Mini. Since the basil grew faster and taller, we had to angle the light unevenly so it wouldn’t burn the basil while still giving the parsley enough exposure to catch up.

It changed how I use herbs

Basil and parsley used to be something I added as garnish. Now I’m using them all the time because they’re right within arm’s reach.

Learned to be creative and made pasta from scratch, made better with fresh herbs

I’ve been making sauces, marinades, pesto, even building meals and cocktails around them. It’s expanded the flavors we use in home cooking, and forced me to experiment instead of defaulting to our go-to recipes inspired by East Asian cooking. In fact, the biggest hurdle I’ve encountered is not having enough recipes in my repertoire that use herbs.

Even when a dish doesn’t call for it, I’ll cut some and add it anyway. Every time I did, it made the dish better. When something is always available and always fresh, you naturally start using more of it. And if you trim it properly, it just keeps growing back. It doesn’t go bad or get forgotten in the fridge.

You can grow anything you want

One of my favorite things about Auk Mini is that it’s not a proprietary system. They do offer other kits like a chili and tomato set or an Italian cuisine mix, but you can also grow your own choices.

I joined a Facebook group of Auk growers, and it’s been inspiring to see how others are using and expanding their indoor gardens. It makes me excited to try things that are harder to find or expensive in the U.S., especially vegetables and herbs I grew up with, like pechay, moringa, lemongrass, pandan, and kangkong.

A small step toward something bigger

Constant fresh herbs within reach

Growing herbs indoors reminds me of something from years ago. In university, I did an immersion program in a low-income community. We recommended sustainable food systems for the stay-at-home moms we met — including hydroponics systems — both as a source of extra income and fresh food.

That experience stayed with me, but I never acted on it. This feels like a small, techie version of that idea: a hydroponic system that works in real life, in a small space, and is easy to keep up with.

Is the Auk Mini your GadgetMatch?

Starting with sprouts showed me I could easily grow something. The Auk Mini showed me I can keep going and expand it. Now I have fresh greens ready whenever I need them.

It starts at $239, which isn’t the cheapest way to get into hydroponics. If you don’t use herbs on the daily like I do, the cost is even harder to justify. But that’s also why I recommend it even more. It’s convenient, it’s fresh, and at the same time it challenges you to be more creative with food.

Basil and parsley keep growing in the Auk Mini after multiple harvests

Auk Mini’s ease of setup and maintenance, and flexibility make it worth it, especially if you don’t know where to start. It was a great hobby to start the year with, and an even better habit I’ve kept building on five months on. It’s given me confidence I can grow my own food for the rest of my life, one way or another.

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.

For 80 years, JBL hasn’t just been part of the music scene; they’ve been the heartbeat of it. From the massive stages of Woodstock to the speakers in your pocket, they’ve defined what “loud and clear” sounds like since 1946.

Marking its 80th year, the brand is entering a new chapter that isn’t about nostalgia, but about how sound fits into the messy, beautiful, and mobile way we live right now.

No more waiting for instrumentals

If there is one thing that defines a good gathering, it’s a spontaneous karaoke session.

JBL is leaning hard into this with their new EasySing ecosystem. The star of the show is the JBL EasySing Mic Mini Duo.

It’s pocket-sized, but it features real-time AI Vocal Removal, allowing you to strip the vocals by 25%, 50%, or completely from any streaming track with a single press.

You no longer have to wait for an official “karaoke version” of a new hit to drop on YouTube. You just press a button and start your solo.

These mics offer six hours of playtime, AI noise suppression, and a natural reverb that makes even shower singers sound like pros.

For those who want the full stage experience, the new PartyBox Encore 2 Plus and PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus have this AI tech built directly into the speakers, turning any living room into a concert hall.

Portable power from the shower to the shore

JBL’s portable lineup has received a serious glow-up designed to survive your next adventure.

The JBL Go 5 remains the king of “throw it in your bag” audio, but it now features AirTouch technology.

If you want a wider soundstage, you just tap two Go 5s together to pair them instantly. For those who need more muscle, the JBL Xtreme 5 delivers detailed sound with AI Sound Boost to prevent distortion at high volumes.

It even doubles as a power bank and lasts for 28 hours, which is longer than most of us can stay awake.

If you’re planning a full-scale bash, the PartyBox 130 introduces a sleek new hexagonal profile and 15 hours of battery life, ensuring the lights and bass keep going until the neighbors finally complain.

Your personal sound bubble

The personal audio side of the family has been completely redesigned with a lifestyle-first lens.

The JBL Live Series, including the Live 680NC and 780NC, features a more polished finish with metallic accents and soft-touch materials.

The Live 780NC is particularly impressive, offering a staggering 80 hours of battery life — enough to fly around the world twice without needing a charger.

For a more tailored fit, the Live 4 series comes in Buds, Beam, and Flex styles to suit your ear shape.

Meanwhile, the everyday Tune Series has been updated with the 680NC and 780NC models now featuring Adaptive Noise Cancelling and Spatial Sound, bringing premium features to the daily commute.

Leveling up your gameplay

Gamers haven’t been left out of the 80th-anniversary celebration.

The new Quantum 250, 650, and flagship 950 headsets are engineered for precise spatial audio, but the real win is the modularity.

JBL has designed these so that the microphone, ear cushions, and cables are easily replaceable. It’s a refreshing move toward longevity since you don’t have to toss the whole headset just because your gear has seen some heavy use.

With customizable software and a redesigned “hammock” headband, these are built for marathon sessions where comfort is just as important as the kill-death ratio.

Price, availability

Most of this new gear is available now, while a few highly anticipated items are just around the corner.

For the karaoke enthusiasts, the EasySing Mic Mini Duo is priced at PhP 12,999, the Mic Mini at PhP 8,999, and the standard EasySing Mic at PhP 10,999.

In the portable category, the Go 5 is an easy win at PhP 2,899, while the Xtreme 5 sits at PhP 21,299. Party-goers can grab the PartyBox 130 for PhP 23,999, the Encore 2 Plus for PhP 26,999, or the On-The-Go 2 Plus for PhP 24,999.

On the personal audio front, the Live 780NC is PhP 11,999 and the Live 680NC is PhP 7,999. The Live 4 series (Beam, Buds, and Flex) are all priced at PhP 12,499.

The Tune series ranges from the 530BT at PhP 3,499 up to the 780NC at PhP 7,999. Finally, for the gamers, the Quantum series starts at PhP 3,999 for the 250, PhP 9,199 for the 650, and PhP 21,999 for the flagship 950.

JBL is 80 years old, but by mixing AI innovation with rugged portability, they’ve ensured they will remain the loudest, coolest brand in the room for another eight decades.