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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
Time of India
23-04-2025
- Time of India
Skullcandy Rail ANC earbuds review: Hits the right notes
Rating – 3.5/5 They say silence is golden—but in today's world, it usually comes at a premium. Skullcandy 's new Rail ANC earbuds are built around that idea, offering a feature-packed alternative in the increasingly competitive mid-range audio market. Priced at Rs 8,999 in India, these true wireless earbuds come equipped with active noise cancellation, IPX4 water resistance, and support for Skullcandy's proprietary Skull-iQ platform, which brings voice control, customizable buttons, and over-the-air updates into the mix. The Rail ANC also features a partially transparent design, clearly positioned to take on both lifestyle and tech-focused users. But in a segment crowded with offerings from established names, the real question is—can Skullcandy's latest hold its own? Let's find out Skullcandy Rail ANC earbuds design The Skullcandy Rail ANC earbuds come in a single black finish, with a semi-transparent stem-style design. The outer panels of each bud are marked with the signature Skullcandy logo. The earbuds' see-through detailing is a nice visual touch, reminiscent of designs seen on other transparent-themed tech. The buds feel lightweight and sit comfortably in the ear. Wearing the earbuds, we did not feel any discomfort even during extended listening sessions. They come with three pairs of silicone eartips, allowing for some level of customization in fit and seal. While the design doesn't break new ground, it feels well-built for the price point. Talking about the case, it feels a bit chunkier. Having said that, you can still pocket it in your earbuds. The logo is placed in the front of the case with a USB Type-C logo at the bottom. The lid closure feels one of the strongest. One feature we really liked about the case is its internal lighting, which adds a unique touch. Skullcandy Rail ANC earbuds are equipped with IPX4 rating which means they can withstand splashes and light rain. Skullcandy Rail ANC earbuds performance Inside, the earbuds house 12mm drivers that cover a standard frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz. They support Bluetooth 5.2 and are compatible with AAC and SBC codecs. The earbuds work with both Android smartphones and iPhones. The inclusion of multipoint support is a plus, allowing us to stay connected to two devices simultaneously and switch between phone and laptop seamlessly. Touch controls are handled by capacitive panels on both earbuds. They're responsive for the most part, but occasional misfires can occur, especially during adjustments or accidental touches. Single tap for play/pause, double tap to skip forward, and triple tap to cycle between ANC On, ANC Off, and Stay Aware mode. Noise cancellation isn't particularly strong — even with ANC enabled, surrounding sounds still come through. A long press on the left earbud brings up your phone's voice assistant, while the right triggers Spotify Tap for quick access to music. Before delving into the performance review, we'd first like to explore how the Skull IQ app integrates with the earbuds. To unlock the full potential of the Skullcandy Rail ANC, users need to pair the earbuds with the Skull-iQ companion app, available on both Android and iOS. However, there's an initial quirk for users in India—the app doesn't officially list the region, so you'll need to select 'Other' during setup. Once past that, though, the onboarding is smooth, and the customization options open up quickly. The app offers a comprehensive suite of features. You can toggle between hearing modes, tweak the EQ using preset profiles or create a custom one, and even use the 'Personal Sound by Mimi' feature. Personal Sound is a tool that tests your hearing and adjusts the audio tuning to suit your personal hearing profile. The results are subjective—it assumes you'll prefer the EQ that compensates for any hearing loss—but it's an interesting addition for users who want more personalized audio. You also get access to Skullcandy's hands-free voice control system, which lets you manage music, calls, and even trigger your phone's camera with commands like 'Skullcandy take a picture.' That said, the voice features work more reliably on Android than iOS. Also, speaking camera commands out loud in public may not feel natural to everyone. Another feature worth highlighting is built-in Tile tracking. While this requires installing the separate Tile app and giving it the necessary permissions, it's a handy safeguard against losing your earbuds. With Tile, you can ring the buds if they're nearby or view their last known location on a map. Yes, it might feel like an extra step, and the app-hopping might feel tedious, but it's a practical addition, especially for those prone to misplacing their gear. Skullcandy Rail ANC delivers a sound profile that leans slightly toward the bass, but not overwhelmingly so. Lows feel punchy on tracks like Malang by Ved Sharma or Ghungroo from War, giving the beats a satisfying thump. Mids come through cleanly, especially on vocals-heavy songs like Kesariya or Shayad, where the earbuds handle Arijit Singh's voice with clarity. Highs are decent, though slightly rolled off at higher volumes—noticeable in tracks like Jhoome Jo Pathaan. Overall, the sound is pleasant for casual listening and holds up well across genres. Skullcandy Rail ANC earbuds battery Skullcandy claims over 30 hours of total battery life with the Rail ANC, including the case, and for the most part, that holds true. With moderate volume and mixed usage of ANC, the earbuds manage around 6–7 hours on a single charge, with the case offering roughly three additional full top-ups. It's a reliable performance for daily use, and quick charging support adds convenience when you're running low. Verdict At Rs 8,999, Skullcandy Rail ANC brings together a solid mix of features—active noise cancellation, voice-enabled smart controls, and even Tile tracking. The sound is tuned for easy listening with a bass-leaning profile, and battery life is dependable enough for everyday use. While there are some trade-offs—like extra app setup for Indian users—the Rail ANC still manages to offer a well-rounded experience in the crowded mid-range segment.
