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I think that the Nintendo Music App is one of the coolest products the company has released in a while. Obviously, it is great for listening to your favorite soundtracks. But did you know that it is also one of the best productivity apps out there?

The app has a nifty feature that allows you to extend the playtime of certain tracks. Just pick a duration and the track will seamlessly loop. This is something needed in video games anyway, since developers cannot be certain how long you will stay in any given area, for example.

It turns out that this is also really helpful if you want to focus for a given time – just like you would with a Pomodoro timer. Set the duration, get stuff done, and once the next tune starts, you know it is time to stop and take a break.

Great little feature!

I got my Switch 2 on launch day. The store where I had my pre-order placed had messaged me the day before saying there was a chance it might be delayed. So I spent Thursday morning anxiously refreshing my inbox, waiting to find out whether I could pick it up or not.

Picking it up in-store turned out to be a pretty pleasant experience. While in line, I chatted with other people who had pre-ordered their consoles – an instant connection, thanks to all of us putting money down months ago. Capitalism! Topics ranged from the launch line-up (lacklustre, their opinion), the accessories (not needed) to pricing (too expensive). Still, we all walked out grinning, consoles and games in hand.

The smile didn’t vanish when setting up the console itself: The return of menu music! Yes, only for set-up, but still a welcome surprise. More of this, please, Nintendo! (My hope is, that now that they have played it relatively save when it comes to the hardware, maybe they can invest more into playful companion software.)

The other thing that immediately struck me, was just how big the Switch 2 is. It’s enormous! That’s great when it comes to actually seeing things on the display (great screen, btw), but less so for carrying this thing around or holding it over longer stretches of time. I immediately started to anticipate the inevitable arrival of the Switch 2 Lite, to be honest.

The only real Switch 2 game I played so far was Mario Kart World. It’s a delight. So much charm when it comes to the characters and the world – I kind of want to hug all of my little racer buddies (especially the cow)! Both Grand Prix and K.O. Tour are great modes that truly feel different to precious iterations, thanks to the interconnected world. And some of the stages are just mind-blowing. During my race on the returning Rainbow Road, I kept wanting to stop and just take in the scenery. But I guess this is what the free driving mode is for (which, to be honest, I haven’t explored that much yet).

So yeah, I am happy!

Ok, how cool is this lamp by design studio Nader Gammas? It totally looks like little glowing mushrooms on a tree branch – though I think it is more inspired by old candle holders. As a fan of all things Mario, I'm immediately sold.

So playful. You can get them here.

I keep coming back to Hania Rani's live album "Nostalgia" – there is just something about how her voice, the piano, strings and synths all weave together that really speaks to me. Hearing the audience's reactions adds even more presence. The opening track ("24.04") creates this beautiful momentum, and later tracks "Dancing with Ghosts" and "Don't Break My Heart" are just all time classics.

Really hoping to catch her live here in Berlin sometime soon.