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Tom's Guide
13-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
I just tested these Skullcandy x Bose earbuds, and my 2008 emo heart is happy
Some of the best earbuds are sleek and inconspicuous. The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds — made in collaboration with high-fidelity brand Bose — are not one of them. The Method 360 ANC earbuds are slap-you-in-the-face nostalgia, complete with a carrying case destined for low-slung skater pants. Besides being a blast from the past, the Method 360 ANC earbuds really benefit from this Bose sound. The bass is pumping, loud enough to be destined for the sticky dancefloors of yore. Don't think the bass overpowers detail, though — not at all. With a little EQ tweak, these earbuds can provide both electric bass and sharp detail. While they have a few connectivity annoyances, for just $129, these earbuds are most definitely underpriced. I'd get them now before Skullcandy realises and bumps up the cost. I'll discuss everything in extensive detail in this Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review. Price $129 / £99 Connectivity Bluetooth 5.3 ANC Yes Durability IPX4 Battery 9/32 hours (ANC) 11/40 hours (No ANC) Weight 2.7 ounces Drivers 12mm Dimensions 3.5 x 1.9 x 2 inches Colors Black, white, red, beige, leopard Compatibility iOS, Android The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds are extremely cheap considering their sound quality: just $129 from Amazon U.S. and £99 from Amazon U.K.. This makes them some of the cheapest earbuds I've tested, but oh boy, they do not sound like it. They're miles better than the $129 Soundcore Liberty 5 and not even in the same ballpark as the relatively impressive $99 EarFun Air Pro 4. I was actually gobsmacked when I found out how affordable these earbuds are. As I wrote above, the sound quality performs like earbuds double the price, if you can overlook the semi-cheugy design. At $129, they're the priciest earbuds on Skullcandy's roster (the Sesh and Rail buds are $69), but still very cheap when compared to rivals. Complete with a carabiner ring, these Skullcandy earbuds are destined to be clipped to low-slung skater pants. Their home is a belt loop inhabited by a chain belt and the waistband of boxers that've seen better days. If you're wearing the Method 360 ANC earbuds and not listening to Limp Bizkit, what are you doing? As someone who grew up on Fred Durst & crew, coloring my entire eyelid with a crumbly black pencil, and spending my allowance on spiky jelly earrings and fingerless gloves, the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds remind me of that simpler time. I think for me, the design of these buds is incredibly nostalgic and comforting, but for others, the design could be a major con. On the side of each bud is a cute little skull (Skullcandy's logo, of course), which matches the logo on the charging case itself. The earbuds are a little big, so if you have super small ears, I'd recommend something dinkier like the AirPods 4. My ears err on the side of small and they were a little snug, but not uncomfortable. I switched out the ear tips for the smallest size, which helped with the snugness. Now, the charging case. Probably the Method 360 ANC's most… unique feature. Some people might love this case, and others might hate it. I'm somewhere in the middle. I am prone to losing things — I sewed a pouch on the inside of my bag to prevent misplacing my AirPods — so for other absentminded folk, this overly large case could be a breath of fresh air. For others, however, it's bulky and counterintuitive. Our Audio Editor, Tammy, was not a fan of the bulk. The case is a pretty massive 3.5 inches long, which is easy to find in a bag, but also not possible to fit in a pocket. Unless you've got super baggy skater pants, of course. While controls have been an issue with other budget earbuds I've tried in the past, I had no headaches with the Method 360 ANC. I was able to customize my controls completely in the Skull-IQ app, including adding a volume control. Although most of the Method 360 ANC's features are excellent, I'm going to discuss my one issue first. As with other non-native gear, I found the earbuds a little annoying to switch between devices, even after setting up multi-point connectivity. When I removed the earbuds and did something else for a few minutes, once I put the earbuds back in, they didn't connect to my laptop or phone. I had to return the buds to the charging case, and then reinsert them. This is a little annoying, I suppose, but I also assume you're supposed to return the earbuds to the charging case after taking them out every time anyway. Another minor annoyance is the lack of single-ear wear detection. Skullcandy claims that the Method 360 ANC have wear detection, and that's only half accurate. Yes, if you take out one earbud, that earbud pauses. But the other one doesn't. Only the removed earbud pauses, which is kind of pointless. My AirPods pause my music entirely when I remove one earbud. While this isn't unheard of for $129/£99 earbuds, I'd like to see this as a toggleable feature on future versions. Now that's out of the way, I'll discuss everything I do like about the Skullcandy Method 360 ANCs. Firstly, these earbuds have IPX4, which means they'll be able to withstand mild water like gentle rain or sweat. However, they're not completely waterproof so don't go dunking them in the sink. Other cheaper earbuds have IPX5, like the EarFun Air 2 ($49) and EarFun Air 2 NC ($69), but this is really a negligible difference. The ANC is very good; I couldn't hear any street noise or ambient office sounds like typing and talking. There are 'Stay aware on', 'Stay aware off', and 'ANC'. I wish Stay aware was a little more, well, aware. When I tried to have a conversation with this ANC mode, I couldn't hear properly and had to remove the earbuds. Finally, there's a range of features in the app, like EQ customization Spotify Tap. Spotify Tap — hold down a touch control to launch Spotify and pick up where you last left off — is a great feature in a pinch, but I found myself gravitating towards manually selecting music myself. Also, of course, this won't work with Tidal, Apple Music or the like. There's also a pretty bizarre feature: Take a Photo. This feature allows you to transform the earbuds into a remote control for your phone's camera. I have no wish to do this so never made use of it, but I suppose it's a good option to have… maybe. As the Method 360 ANC earbuds are made in collaboration with Bose, I had high hopes about the music quality. And, thankfully, I was not disappointed at all. To test the Method 360 ANC earbuds, I listened to a wide variety of music on Qobuz, our best streaming service for audiophiles. Right off the bat, I could tell that these earbuds were very bassy. I fiddled with the EQ settings in the SkullcandyIQ app, and reduced the low end and increased the mids to counteract this. Of course, if you love bass, then this step is unnecessary, but I wanted to get the most detail out of my music as possible. I listened to 'Fallen Alien' by FKA Twigs, which is an atmospheric, layered track with immersive percussion and almost cinematic synths. The choral sections were clear and seemed to surround my ears. I could hear every piece of audio detail, from the inflections in the lead vocal to the discordant bass and mids. The $129 earbuds did a fantastic job of both separating the instruments and detail, and also making the track sound harmonious. Afterwards, I switched genre. I played '3AM (LA LA LA)' by Confidence Man, a track with an all-consuming, heady '90s synth and pulsing bass. The bass was insistent and strong, although there was a little tinniness in the mids. To fix this, I adjusted the EQ ever so slightly. This made the kick drum crackle a touch, but really not bad considering these are $129 earbuds. To give the earbuds a thorough test, I wanted to play something really gritty and gristly. I opted for 'Endless, Nameless' by Nirvana, because what else? The bass growled in my left ear and the lead guitar screeched in my right. Neither instrument clipped or warped, and I could feel the raw vocal in my eardrums. I'm sure you already know, but 'Bad Guy' by Billie Eilish has a really intimate, breathy vocal, where Billie's voice feels like it's right next to you. None of this detail was lost on the Method 360 ANC earbuds, and I could hear all the layers of bass that are often lost on inferior earbuds. Where the Method 360 ANC earbuds excel is, of course, bass, but that doesn't mean they lack detail. I was never left longing for missed detail, and I could discern multiple layers of instruments in quite immersive tracks. To test the Method 360 ANC earbuds, I tested them out on a work call. The earbuds have 2 mics within each earbud, so 4 overall, and Skullcandy's 'Clear Voice Smart Mic', which is described as an 'AI-enabled' feature that isolates voices. My colleagues reported that I sounded crisp and clear, very similar to how I sound when I wear my usual AirPods Pro 2. I think for just $129/£99, this is an incredibly affordable way to get excellent call quality. Unlike the Skullcandy Crusher Evo headphones ($199), which use the Skullcandy app, the Method 360 ANC earbuds are compatible with the Skull-ID app. This app is very pleasant to use: it has an attractive UI and it's easy to navigate. There's an easily accessible range of features on the homepage, including firmware updates. Here's a screenshot from the app. The Skull-ID app is one of the better budget companion apps. It's more modern than the JBL app, but not as unique as the Soundcore app. With ANC off, the Method 360 ANC earbuds will play for 11 hours, and then an extra 29 with the case, so 40 hours overall. With ANC off, the battery life reduces to 9 hours in the buds and another 24 in the case, so 33 hours overall. In reality, I found that the battery was a little better than this. After listening for 5 hours, the earbuds only dropped to 75% battery. This battery life is the same as the EarFun Air Pro 4 ($99). While the Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds are supposed to have 8 hours in the buds, in reality this was more like 5 hours. As a result, the Method 360 ANC earbuds are more reliable than the Soundcore offering. Considering the Method 360 ANC earbuds are just $129, I think they're absolutely fantastic. Obviously they're not perfect — hence the 4-star rating — but they perform well above their price tag. On top of having thrumming, powerful Bose bass, the earbuds are capable of translating precise audio detail, too. Softer, airy vocals and high-frequency sound effects were still audible, and only improved by my custom EQ. I think Skullcandy has absolutely nailed the sound quality here, and for just $129? It's a steal. If you can look past the slight connectivity issues and overly large charging case, then there's no reason why the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds can't be some of the best value wireless earbuds on the market today.
Tom's Guide
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I just tested these $99 noise canceling earbuds with Bose tech — and they're shockingly good
I was 12 when I tried my first pair of Skullcandy earbuds. It was on the bus, and I'd been handed the left bud so that a friend and I could both listen to System of a Down. It was a short experience, but one that left me with a pair of profound realizations — first, that Prison Song is sick. Second, that Skullcandy wasn't very good. So imagine my shock when it was announced that Skullcandy was working with Bose, of all companies, to launch a new pair of earbuds. Imagine further my continued shock and sudden elation when I discovered that the Method 360 ANC are actually really, really good. Like, best cheap wireless earbuds good. The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC are a collaboration with Bose and Skullcandy. That means excellent sound quality, great noise canceling, and a very comfortable fit. All for under $100 at the moment — not bad at all. When I first pulled the Method 360 from their enormous charging case, I was immediately taken. They look like an edgier version of Bose's QuietComfort line of earbuds, all the way down to the silicone wings that help keep them firmly in your ears. Slipping them into my earholes, I found a particularly comfortable fit, as I often have with the similarly shaped Bose options. The fitting options are plenty, and the shape is ergonomic. Lovely. A far cry from the traditional cheap, slightly uncomfortable Skullcandy fare that I've sampled before. Bose's fingerprints are all over the buds and the software experience. The touch controls mirror the QuietComfort line, and even the new 'Skull IQ' app looks an awful lot like the Bose app that controls its headphones and speakers. This is Skullcandy, the funky little logo on the side of the case makes sure we're aware — but not as we know it. I am resigned to the fact that headphone and earbud apps are now a necessity in our modern, smart device culture. I ask only three things: That these apps be powerful, easy to use, and not a big waste of megabytes on my phone's storage. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The Skull-iQ app is pretty much all these things. It's very simply laid out, with all the options available on the front page. There are no silly names for things like the EQ or multipoint pairing, although I do wish that 'Hearing Modes' was called noise canceling. There are plenty of features in the app, too, although some might lament a lack of spatial audio. I do not — they're $129 ($99 on sale), and when given the choice between ANC and spatial audio, I'll always choose the former. The EQ is one of the best features inside the app. Some cheaper buds don't have the same feature in their own apps, and it's nice to be able to dial in the sound beyond 'would you like some more bass, ma'am?' Sony's WF-C710N buds have noise canceling, and they're very good at it. They cost $120. 1More buds have good noise canceling, and they cost around $80. My Final ZE3000 SV have good noise canceling, and they cost just $69. None of them can hold a candle to the Bose-tuned ANC of the Method 360. I can't tell you it's as good as the QuietComfort Ultra, or the WF-1000XM5. It's not. But, for $129, you aren't going to find any better. It blocks out any environmental noise with relative ease, silencing bus and train journeys so that you can enjoy your music without being interrupted by the soccer fans that you're sharing a coach with. Transparency mode is similarly solid, letting everything in that you want to hear without making it sound like the auditory version of the uncanny valley. Despite their annoying 'Hearing mode' moniker, the ANC and transparency modes are best in class. For the rest of the package, it means a Bose-like shape and app — for the sound things get more involved. Apparently, the Method 360 ANC use Bose's drivers for the sound, which are then molded by both Skullcandy and Bose for a heavier, jaw-shaking Skullcandy signature tone. The result is loads and loads of fun. There's plenty of the low stuff, as you'd imagine. But Skullcandy hasn't just taken the Bose drivers, worked out how much bass they can produce, made them do it, and then called it a day. There's more control than I was expecting, and even some restraint when it comes to bass that is uncharacteristic of the brand. Look, they're still bassy. The kick drums of Bloodbath's Zombie Inferno hit like a rotting freight train, and the sub-bass of K Motionz' Silver Bullet shakes the back of your skull. This is still Skullcandy, and the buds make sure you know it. But there's more detail than most offerings at this price, producing a fairly well-balanced sound signature that even more expensive buds might glance at and realize they're not as safe as they thought they were. Hi-hats and cymbals have plenty of crash, with lots of resolution to be found. Are they HiFi? No, very few things that are wireless at this price are. But they very quickly made me forget that they were under $150, and they even managed to make me forget that they were a Skullcandy product. The charging case is too big. I think it's supposed to be attached to your bag with the lanyard keychain strap thing, but then someone is just going to steal them while you walk around. It's too big for most pockets thanks to its weird design, and the opening mechanism doesn't feel like it's going to last all that long. Thankfully, Skullcandy fixed the deafening announcement voice, who damn near made me drop my phone the first time I connected them. All in all, though? That's pretty much it, which is remarkable for a pair of buds that cost as little as the Method 360 ANC.
Man of Many
11-06-2025
- Man of Many
Skullcandy Method 360 ANC Review: Killer Quality Without the Price Tag
By Dean Blake - Review Published: 11 June 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 6 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC are a fantastic pair of earphones for just AUD$189.99 Partnering with Bose, Skullcandy has delivered amazing sound quality and ANC in a small shell The earphones are best when paired with the dedicated Skull-IQ app It's rare that audio manufacturers work together. Companies like Skullcandy and Bose often find themselves on opposite sides of a battle for customers' cash, with the idea of collaboration faint and distant. Well, we're seeing something rare indeed, because not only did Skullcandy and Bose put their capabilities together to make a pair of earphones—the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC—but that product is actually really good. Bringing the high-quality audio capabilities of Bose together with Skullcandy's penchant for design, the Method sits under the latter's branding and stand as its most expensive pair of earbuds yet. But, the quality is definitely there, and comparative to the price you're usually paying for Bose's audio the Method is downright affordable. I've been using them for a few weeks now, and I've come away pretty impressed: particularly by the active noise cancelling, which is among if not the best I've tested yet. Skullcandy Method 360 ANC Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Price AUD$189.99 AUD$289.95 Audio Drivers 12mm 9.3mm ANC Types Adjustable 4-Mic ANC: Full, Stay-Aware Mode, Off Aware mode, Quiet Mode, Off Battery Life 9 hours, up to 32 hours with case and ANC on 11 hours, up to 40 hours with case and ANC off 8.5 hours, up to 31.5 hours with case Features – IPX4 Sweat and Water Resistant – Rapid Charge (10 mins = 2hrs) – Multipoint Pairing – Pairs with Skull-IQ App – Clip-Anywhere Battery Case – IPX4 Sweat and Water Resistant – Rapid Charge (20 mins = 3hrs) – Multipoint Pairing – Pairs with Bose QCE App – Battery Case Scroll horizontally to view full table Audio Quality, Audio Cancelling For the money, the Method 360 ANC pack some serious audio quality into a wireless, comfortable form factor. Everything I threw at them came out sounding great: and I threw quite a varied array of sounds into the mix. Over the past few weeks I've been diving into lo-fi synth wave, which came out sounding creamy and bassy, as well as a nice little sprinkle of Swedish extreme metal, which packed one hell of a punch—especially when I started playing with the EQ (see below). I'm not going to sit here and say that Skullcandy's audio isn't usually good, but clearly collaborating with Bose has delivered something very special here. The best part is that, while I was listening to these either dreamy or nightmarish genres on the tram home from the office, I also got to enjoy some of the best ANC I've yet used in an earbud form factor. I recently had a bit of time with the CMF Buds 2 Plus, which I liked quite a bit and has great ANC, but switching between the two showed off just how much better the ANC is in Skullcandy's efforts. Using the Skull-IQ app allows you to easily switch between a full ANC mode in which you'll hear essentially nothing of the outside world, a stay-aware mode in which you'll hear the world around you, but muffled, and an 'off' setting, which… turns ANC off. Living in a busy city definitely comes with its drawbacks, and constant noise is one of them, but the Method 360 did a great job of keeping my morning or evening commutes relatively free of noise pollution. Skullcandy Method 360 ANC | Image: Dean Blake / Man of Many Skull-IQ Delivers the EQ When paired up with the Skull-IQ app, you're able to switch up the earbuds' EQ balance to a number of pre-determined styles— the incredibly broad focuses of music, bass boost, and podcast—or create whatever you want using custom sliders. I'm not a huge fan of brands segregating features behind an app, if I'm being honest, but given how EQ controls have all but disappeared from most music streaming services, I'll take the compromise. Using the custom mode lets you mess with the earbuds' low end, low-mid, mid, high-mid, and high end, and can do it live while listening to whatever you want to best represent the experience you want. Need more bass? Dial up the low-end. Is a pesky lead guitar stealing the show and drowning out the rhythm section? Pull back the highs. It's a simple system, but it gets the job done, and it's more than some other earbud makers bother with. Plus, if you can't be bothered fiddling with it, you don't have to. The sound is great regardless. Skullcandy Method 360 ANC | Image: Dean Blake / Man of Many How's The Fit? Okay, so the Method 360 ANC perform well, but are they comfortable? Absolutely, and come with a set of differently-sized earbud tips so that you can tailor the buds to fit your ear canal snugly. In fact, they're probably the most snug-fitting earbuds I've used thanks to a small silicon trim along the top of the bud which not only holds it in place within your ear, but also plays a slight role in sealing out sound from the outside. I honestly feel like I could wear these things and do cartwheels and they wouldn't fall out, though I'd probably struggle to stand back up afterward. The design, though, often leaves me confused as to which earbud goes in which ear, and then which one goes back into each side of the included charging case. Something about needing to put the earbuds into the charging case upside down throws me every time, and I'm constantly wondering if the buds are the right way up, putting them in wrong, and then needing to fix it up. It's a 5-second tax every time I try to take them out of the case, or put them back in, which I suppose will add up over time. Skullcandy Method 360 ANC | Image: Dean Blake / Man of Many However, I will say that, thanks to that massive charging case, I have literally not had to charge the earbuds since an initial juicing. Every time I put them back in my ears they're at 100 per cent, and I'm waiting for that to stop happening but it just hasn't. The buds themselves can last up to 9 hours with ANC on, but you'll get an extra 23 hours by using the case to top them up. If you're not using ANC as much as I am, you'll get a grand total of 40 hours of audio, which is nothing to sneeze at. Man of Many's Verdict All in all, though, Skullcandy's Method 360 ANC are a fantastic pair of earbuds, and more than earn their keep for your hard-earned money. If you're looking for great audio quality, incredible noise cancelling, and access to easy-to-use EQ capabilities, the Method 360 ANC are going to deliver: and all for sub-$200.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
The 9 best headphones of 2025 — how do the new Sony XM6 compare?
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. In 2025, a pair of headphones or earbuds is pretty much non-optional. That's why there are hundreds of different headphones and earbuds in varying shapes, sizes, styles, colors, and, of course, prices. And these days, you can grab a random pair off the digital shelf without too much research and find that they do the job just fine. However, if you're tired of settling for "just fine", then it's worth investing in the best headphones available. Through hours and hours of listening, we sorted through dozens of headphones to find the very best models, from the just-released Sony XM6 headphones to old favorites from Bose, Beats, and Apple. We won't beat around the bush: There's no definitive "best" product here. Sure, elite audio brands put out high-quality products across the board, but even within each of those brands, you'll find different tiers of products. Some will deliver better value, and some will deliver better hardware and active noise cancellation. All this to say, the best pair of earbuds or headphones largely comes down to personal preference and how you plan to use them. Some listeners swear by over-ear headphones, while others prefer the minimalism of earbuds — one is not necessarily better than the other. Athletes who like to use headphones at the gym will appreciate waterproof materials and the best open earbuds, while frequent fliers will prefer devices with long battery life, comfort, and portability. Finally, music lovers and audiophiles will want to invest in premium features like a custom equalizer, spatial audio, or best-in-class active noise cancellation. To help you pick, we tested all of the headphones in this guide (and a lot that didn't make the cut). Here, you'll find the top headphones of 2025 for noise cancellation, music, price, and wired connections. We focused primarily on the best wireless headphones for this guide. While wired headphones have their fans, wireless headphones are just more convenient for most of us. If we had to pick, we'd recommend the Marshall Mode earbuds as our top wired pick. Most recently, we tested the JBL Tour One M3 headphones and the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC, and we may add them to this guide in a future update. We also tested the Marshall Major V headphones and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 headphones, both of which had excellent sound profiles and easy-to-navigate custom equalizers on their companion apps. Ultimately, they didn't make the cut on our final list for a couple of reasons. With the Major V headphones, we love that their claim of 100+ hours of battery life held up under our testing, but we found them to get uncomfortable after a couple of hours. We also would have appreciated ANC at their $149 price point. For the B&W headphones, we loved their design and premium feel in addition to their truly impressive sound, but we found that their ANC was only so-so. If you're willing to spend $399, you can find a better balance of sound and ANC in the Sony XM5 headphones. We've also tested the Sonos Ace headphones and Dyson OnTrac headphones. And while we loved them both for sound quality and noise cancellation, they fare in the way of AirPods Max — left out of our recommendations for their high price points. For our future updates, we're testing out more budget noise-cancelling earbuds. Right now, we're also considering the Sony WF-710N earbuds.
Man of Many
31-05-2025
- Man of Many
Man of Many's Staff Favourites—31 May 2025
By Dean Blake - News Published: 31 May 2025 |Last Updated: 30 May 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 5 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Here at Man of Many, we're often given the opportunity to try out products ahead of time for review, but sometimes our favourite things are just the things we already own, or have purchased ourselves. So, each week, we strive to show off a few of our own, personal favourite products or experiences in the hopes that we can help people make better buying decisions. Also, sometimes it's just fun to write about things you like. Here's our Staff Favourites for this week – enjoy! Skullcandy's Method 360 ANC | Image: Skullcandy Skullcandy's Method 360 ANC Dean Blake – Entertainment and Technology Journalist I've been testing a few earphones recently, and I've got something cool to share. Audio brand Skullcandy have delivered a really, really good pair of earphones—the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC—which have some of the best audio quality in an in-ear format I've yet used. That partially comes from the fact these earphones are made in collaboration with Bose, one of the best audio makers in the biz. Now, the Method 360 ANC look very (and sound) similar to Bose' Quiet Comfort earbuds, but they're about $100 cheaper, which is always a nice thing, and they have some fantastic active noise cancelling for when you're moving about the noisy city. Plus, when you sync them up with the Skull-iQ app on your phone you can customise how the earbuds act when you tap them, play with the ANC, and set more specific EQ levels if you're after a particular sound. That's all great, but they also come in a frankly massive charging case that delivers an additional 20+ hours of battery life, charges with USB-C, and can be clipped onto your bag or something if you want to be able to access them at a moments notice. They're great, and if you're in the market for some new earbuds, these ones are only AUD$189.99. Favourite Article of the Week: Best Glamping Spots Near Melbourne for a Relaxing Weekend Getaway Forget Calendly – Enter Google Calendar Appointments Scott Purcell – Co-founder You know that graveyard of unused productivity apps sitting on your phone or in the bookmarks toolbar of your browser? The ones that guzzle up subscription fees before you're none the wiser? Well, one of those for me was the 'Calendly' app. Brilliant product, absolutely, but it probably gathered more dust than bookings on my calendar. It just wasn't something I really used, yet it was costing me lots of money. Enter the Google Calendar Appointment Schedule, which essentially achieves the exact same thing at the amazing price of $0. I love that you can carve out time for the gym each day or mark an entire Friday as 'Do Not Disturb'. Your colleagues or clients only see the slots you want them to book, and the meeting is locked in with no extra email back and forth or a request to send you a calendar invite. To get it set up, go to Google Calendar > hit Create > then Appointment Schedule > add any details you need and voila, your booking calendar is now complete. The link provides live updates and automatically hides times that clash with your other events. You can also add in a handy buffer between meetings if you need and don't wish for back-to-backs. The paid Google Workspace plans come with some added benefits, like being able to charge for your time. Give it a go and let me know what you think! Favourite Article of the Week: Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge Smartphone Defines Innovation for Innovation's Sake Omakase John Guanzon – Head of Creative & Production I'm the kind of guy who'll study dining menus like an HSC Advanced English text before booking a place to eat, but sitting down for an Omakase where you surrender all control and expectations to the chef and the restaurant team was such a surprising breath of fresh air. The 18-seat kappo-style restaurant is the brain-child of Darren Templeman (formerly Restaurant Atelier), but he runs it with head chef Bonnie Yu and sommelier Aurelien Jeffredo. There's no printed menu, only a 10-course omakase shaped by the day's produce and the team's instincts. Just vibes, really. Inside, it's just one long, narrow counter with 18 seats lined up with a full view of the kitchen. While it always feels busy, there's this weird sense of calm. The three-person team moves like they've done this a hundred times. Smooth, in sync, no fuss. The highlight, though, is the food. I couldn't tell you exactly what we ate (there was no menu to snap a photo of), but I remember the flavour sensations having a party in my mouth. A few dishes are still burned into memory, though: the warm hen's egg filled with onion purée and topped with trout roe, and a buttery lobster tail grilled over charcoal. Yum! Favourite Article of the Week: Razer's Vertical Gaming Mouse Feels Like It Was Made Specifically for Me
