The Mindspace
Product Recommendations
I've spent years as a software engineer, tech enthusiast, gamer, podcaster, and professional product reviewer. In that time I've come across some truly top-tier hardware and gadgets. Here I'm going to share some of the products I feel are worthy of recommendation, and I hope they're interesting, useful, or delightful to somebody out there.
Links below may contain affiliate codes, so when you make a purchase after following one of these links, I may earn a commission.
My Filming Gear
I'm always switching between different gear for different purposes, but there are a few things I find myself using constantly because it's so well designed, convenient, and really effective. It helps that most of it is also very compact. Here's what I keep in my bag at all times.
PGYTECH CapLock MantisPod Z
I'm using an older version of this tripod that's co-branded with Insta360, but the new version is obviously an improvement. This little tripod is amazing for how versatile and well-built it is. While completely folded up, it forms a simple handle that's great for holding an action camera comfortably. However, the power of this little piece of gear is that it has so many ways to adjust. Two legs can spin out to form a tripod, and the larger leg actually has two more segments on top of it that can extend out to significantly raise the height of the camera. Each segment can be tightened down to mostly prevent sag, and the whole thing is incredibly sturdy. But hidden within that third leg is also a small wedge that can fold out and be hooked onto the side of a window, railing, or various other places so the tripod can hang on the side of things to gain even more mounting versatility. The new version now integrates a quick-release system. I've been using this constantly for a few years and it's easily one of my favorite pieces of gear.
Buy on AmazonFor the Gamers!
Black Friday week is upon us and the pursuit for good gear for the gamers in our lives is hard to pass up. While hardly an exhausitive list, here are some excellent buys this weekend for the gamers you know!
Elgato Stream Deck+
There are various control panels, but one brand and model stands out above the rest for pro streamers. Elgoto has defined the market, and with good reason. The flexibility of a panel with programmable keys with individual displays is unmatched in convenience. Likewise, placing mixer knobs right on the panel adds more control and space-saving advantage.
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Elgato XLR Dock
For the true pro streamers that care about their audio, the XLR Dock adds a port for the mic with Phantom Power, and it has a built-in amp with up to 75dB of gain.
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PlayStation 5 Pro Console
The PlayStation 5 Pro is Sony's latest and greatest console, boasting improved performance, ray tracing capabilities, and a host of new features that elevate the gaming experience to new heights.
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Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the latest iteration of Nintendo's popular hybrid console, offering enhanced graphics, improved battery life, and a new Mario Kart World Bundle that includes exclusive in-game content and accessories.
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ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 PRO
For serious gamers, a high-performance router is essential to minimize latency and ensure a stable connection. The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98 PRO offers advanced features like Wi-Fi 7 support, multiple antennas for better coverage, and gaming optimization settings to prioritize gaming traffic.
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beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO MKII Premium Tesla Studio Headphones
Open-back reference headphones are the absolute pinnacle of the listening experience. If you're trying to get the best sound possible for gaming, music, or movies, these are the headphones to get.
Buy on AmazonAlissa's Build
Building a gaming rig? Alissa, our Gamer Mermaid, has parted out a build with great cost-to-performance value!
Monitors
Sceptre 34-Inch Curved Ultrawide WQHD Monitor
Ultrawide displays are crucial to my workflow for software development, writing, and video editing. I don't know what I would do without mine. However, the Dell model I have isn't in production anymore, but h/t to Austin for suggesting this Sceptre 34-inch 21:9 ultrawide. It's surprisingly affordable, clocks in at the WQHD (3440 x 1440), and boasts a 1ms response time on the pixels with a maximum of 165Hz refresh rate. The one place I wouldn't necessarily encourage its use is for color-accurate workflows, as it only supports 85% of sRGB, and even then it's find for any typical photo work. I haven't looked at it in person, but reviewers seem overwhelmingly pleased.
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LG UltraGear Monitors
LG is reclaiming its position with excellent gaming monitors with great color accuracy, high refresh rates, and low response times.
Action Cameras
I've tested action cameras from every major manufacturer, and while each has some unique advantages, I can only recommend DJI and Insta360. Don't get me wrong, GoPro makes a good camera, but I find the battery life to be too short for practical use, and moreover, the charging time is far longer than the competitors. Additionally, GoPro tries entirely too hard to push its subscription service, which I find off-putting. Meanwhile, the competitors offer the same or better quality without the hard sell for other services.
Insta360
Insta360 is the youngest member of the action camera elite, but was quick to launch directly into position as a contender. For fairly obvious reasons, I want to recommend both the 360-degree camera line the company was originally known for, plus its newer traditional form factor action camera.
Insta360 X5
The Insta360 One X5 is the company's most recent addition to the 360-degree camera lineup. I used the X4, and I was truly impressed with how flexible it was and how much easier it is to use a camera when you don't have to worry about keeping yourself in frame. The only thing you need to worry about is putting the camera in a good place. Of course, editing the video takes more work, but the app simplifies much of the process through algorithms to detect the best footage, or you can take manual control.
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Insta360 Ace Pro 2
Insta360's Ace Pro 2 fits into the more traditional action camera form factor, except with a twist. Unlike most action cameras, it features a flip-up screen that makes it far easier and more pleasant to frame yourself in the shot, making this the ideal camera for vlogging. Additionally, it has great battery life, excellent image quality, stabilization, and the best low-light performance I've seen. The footage looks great straight out of camera, but you can also shoot in LOG to go the extra step with color grading, and the app is the most respectful of its users.
Buy on AmazonDJI
DJI Action 5 Pro
In basically all regards, the DJI Action cameras line up pretty evenly with the Insta360 Ace Pro line, but there are minor pros and cons that may push you to choose one over the other, depending on your needs. I tend to think DJI's biggest real advantage comes from the accessory ecosystem, which is surprisingly extensive. I've had great experiences with not only DJI's first-party products, but also many of the carrying cases, dive cases, and lens filters available from other manufacturers designing for the DJI Action line. While GoPro might still lead here, there's no denying DJI is in a great place for accessories. Insta360 is still comparatively new in the market, so the selection is more limited for things like dive cases, quick release mounts, and other tools to assist in shoots. Where DJI tends to fall down is the mobile app, at least for Android. Bear in mind, most people won't need to use the mobile app after the initial setup, but it is useful for remote viewing and control. DJI still hasn't placed a modern version of the app in the Play Store, so it has to be sideloaded, and the app has always been weird about reconnecting between powering off and back on.
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