Today in Gear: 5 Products You Need to Know

In a move that shook the entire video game industry, Microsoft has unveiled plans to acquire Activision Blizzard in a $70 billion deal. To be clear, this isn’t just a few game publishers falling into Microsoft’s hands, this stands as one of the biggest media acquisitions in recent memory (a decent comparison would be Disney’s buy up of 21st Century Fox for just over $71 billion back in 2017). The announcement ties into a few different headlines from the past couple years — including Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax Media and Bethesda Softworks back in 2020 and the reveal of systemic harassment and mistreatment at Activision Blizzard at the end of 2021. Taken together, 2020 revealed that Microsoft was willing to make big moves in order to get a step ahead of the competition. This new announcement — which would theoretically add major titles like Diablo and Call of Duty as Microsoft “first party exclusives“ and prime targets for Xbox’s “Game Pass” service— proves that Microsoft is going to pay whatever it takes to push its competition into irrelevancy. Video game shakeups aside, we’re addressing Porsche Design’s 50th anniversary Chronograph I watch, J.Crew and Diemme’s frontrunner for footwear collab of the year and so much more. This is Today in Gear.

The Womanizer Premium 2 uses unique air-suction for total pleasure.

Lovehoney

Founded by German inventor Michael Lenke in 2014, Womanizer taps into proprietary “Pleasure Air” technology to stimulate sensitive clitoral nerve endings through unique massaging air vibrations for a powerful climax. he Womanizer Premium 2 is the cutting edge of this industry-changing technology, using the aforementioned “Pleasure Air” technology in concert with a one-touch “Autopilot” function, a wide variety of intensity settings and a versatile, elegant design.

Porsche Design revives Chronograph 1 in honor of 50th anniversary.

Porsche

Touted as the first-ever all-black watch and serving as Porsche Design’s first-ever product release, the Chronograph I was a game-changer when it dropped back in 1972. The watch returns to honor its 50th birthday, featuring a black titanium carbide finish and utilizing Porsche Design’s proprietary WERK 01.140 movement.

Diemme and J.Crew have a future “best shoe collab of 2022” on their hands.

J.Crew

Say what you want about J.Crew, but the brand knows how to link with another brand on some top-class footwear. The brand’s latest partnership has produced two new takes on Diemme’s Roccia Vet boot. Handmade in Italy, the boots boast a Cordura nylon or leather upper (based on the colorway), padded inner lining and a rugged rubber outsole. Oh, and did we mention that 15 percent of sales will go to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy?

Brompton’s “T Line” titanium folding bikes were three years in the making.

Brompton

British brand Brompton has been in R&D for three years to shape the “T Line”, its lightest folding bike. Overhauling virtually everything but the brake system, the design prioritized shedding weight, making it 37 percent lighter than its steel counterpart. The folding bikes come in two variants: the single speed “T Line One” and the four-speed “T Like Urban”.

This dog collar is like a smart watch for your dog.

Invoxia

Showcased back at CES 2022, Invoxia’s Smart Dog Collar is touted as, “the first biometric health collar for dogs.” In addition to providing GPS tracking (in the event your best friend gets lost), the collar has built-in sensors that track your dog’s health — monitoring vitals, movement and sleep quality in an app dashboard — just like any modern-day smartwatch. Look out for this collar when it drops this summer.

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