Latest News from Geek Culture
Geek Culture
4 hours ago
- Business
- Geek Culture
App of the Month: Splid (May 2025)
Good company makes for a good time, but it can also mean more work when it comes to calculating the bill. While some may find comfort in doing the math, others are often put off by the tedium of it all, especially with additional factors like multiple payees and uneven splits complicating matters. Taking the stress out of handling transactions is Splid, aptly conveyed through its tagline of 'Split bills, not friendships'. Designed to help users stay on top of their shared expenses and settle up in a fuss-free way, it touts a nifty slate of features, starting with a clean, straightforward interface that shows them who owes how much to whom after all the expenses are keyed in. There's no need for an Internet connection or account to reap the benefits, either. The app supports offline use and doesn't require sign-up to work, but going online will sync the group's spending. In more intricate cases where, say, not everyone orders the same serving or portion of food, the bill can be adjusted without being subjected to mental gymnastics. With over 150 currencies registered and the ability to automatically convert amounts into just one currency, Splid keeps up the convenience for travelling, allowing users to easily track their overseas spending and split costs while abroad. Those who want to download summaries as PDF or Excel files have to fork out a small sum of US$4.99, but otherwise, the app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store for free. Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth's theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia's greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really. Android App of the Month iOS Splid
Geek Culture
13 hours ago
- Health
- Geek Culture
Omnidesk Ascent Standing Desk (Black Ash) – Review
If there's anything that the pandemic has taught us, it's that you don't have to be seated at your desk while working. From standing while typing, to walking around while taking a call, to walking on the spot as you reply to emails – more people are learning that a desk and a chair are not always the best combination for every workspace. And those who do so, not seated for eight extended hours at their office or home desk set-ups, will no longer feel the constant back and body aches faced after a long day of work. Indeed, today's health-conscious users demand more than just makeshift desk arrangements like dining tables or even traditional office furniture – they want a desk that's not only sturdy enough to handle even the most complex rigs, but one that can adjust to suit different postures too. That's where smart desks come in, as these flexible workstations are capable of seamlessly switching between sitting and standing positions at the push of a button. And for those looking for the best of the best, Singaporean SME Omnidesk is pulling out all the stops with its Ascent flagship standing desk, providing all the features modern users desire along with notable updates to its Omnidesk Pro lineup. At first glance, the Ascent essentially functions identically to the Pro, inheriting all its major features, like a mechanised self-raising and lowering mechanism that comes with anti-collision, in case the young ones happen to run under an elevated desk, or if there's an obstruction preventing the table from being raised to chest level. The Ascent uses smart detection to absorb impact from above or below and adjust accordingly when faced with obstacles, preventing minor accidents from movable furniture. Coupled with its handy cable management system and cutout on the desktop to flush those unsightly cables, the Ascent can be used to configure any set-up, from multiple screens across the table in your home, to that minimalist centrepiece for your office cubicle. The magic lies in the Ascent's finer details. For starters, it packs in Omnidesk's latest Gen 3 dual motor in its steel frame columns, providing a 60mm/s elevation speed compared to the 43mm/s of the Pro. The desk's maximum adjustable height range also differs slightly, at 63.7 to 127cm over the Pro's 60 to 125cm. Perhaps the Ascent's most obvious visual difference lies in its new OLED controller, featuring not only larger tactile keys for its height adjustment and four programmable memory buttons, but also customisable RGB lighting with six colour settings available. Just like on the Pro, there's also a handy USB-A port located on the side of the controller for easy charging of a user's devices. The changes to its controller aren't just limited to aesthetics, however, as the Ascent now features an integrated Bluetooth app, Omnidesk Life, which can not only adjust the height of the desk remotely with up to nine memory profiles, but also features a bunch of handy features like tracking sitting and standing activity, adjusting the anti-collision feature's sensitivity, or building a custom height limit. These improvements might seem small on the surface, but when spending most of your time sitting or standing behind a desk, having a hands-free way to adjust the height on the fly and quicker adjustment time goes a long way in making the user experience as comfortable and hassle-free as possible. Aesthetics wise, most Omnidesk tables look the same from afar, but up close, you notice how it expertly blends simplicity with functionality, with tabletops of different compositions, crafted from high-grade MDF (medium-density fibre) wood that's not only lightweight but durable to boot, offering a wide range of colourways including black, white, pink and bamboo. For those who desire a more premium finish, Omnidesk also offers its Wildwood collection alongside its new limited edition Black Ash option, a pleasingly clean aesthetic with a distinct wood grain. To suit each individual's work space, the Ascent comes in three sizes: Small (122 x 76cm), Large (153 x 76cm) and XL (183 x 76cm). Using its new Frame-X Technology in its rounded leg frames, the desk remained sturdy even at its maximum height, and can support up to 130kg of weight despite the slim tabletop. To customise the desk for further functionality, Omnidesk also provides optional add-ons like advanced cable management options, mountable power bricks or castors for easy desk adjustment. For those worried about the desk's setup process, Omnidesk promises easy assembly between 15 to 30 minutes, but those who are not confident about building it on their own can always opt for on-site assembly by the Omnidesk team, although this is subject to additional assembly fees. With prices starting at S$1,279 for the regular colourways and S$1,528 for the limited edition Black Ash variant, the Omnidesk Ascent standing desk elevates (pun intended) the already impressive standards set by its predecessors, introducing subtle but effective enhancements for those who want the most out of their smart desk setups. Summary Very much ascending like its namesake, the Omnidesk Ascent marks the next step in the company's innovations, and a worthwhile investment for those looking for a premium standing desk that's equal parts durable and aesthetically pleasing. 9.3/10 Aesthetics - 9/10 Build Quality - 9.5/10 Performance - 9.5/10 Value - 9/10 Geek Satisfaction - 9.5/10 Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. Omnidesk omnidesk ascent Omnidesk Ascent Ash Black Review standing desk
Geek Culture
21 hours ago
- Business
- Geek Culture
Hasbro Unveils 'Marvel vs. Capcom' Games-Inspired Marvel Legends Figures
Hasbro has revealed its newest wave of Marvel Legends Gamerverse action figures, featuring ten characters inspired by Capcom's classic fighting game series, Marvel vs. Capcom . These newly announced figures will be released as either individual figures or packs of two, with the full line-up including: Captain America vs. Venom Psylocke vs. Thanos War Machine vs. Omega Red Wolverine vs. Silver Samurai Gargantos Juggernaut These figures will be the latest line-up to Marvel Legends' Gamerverse subline, and will see the debut of Gargantos, alongside updated designs for the remaining characters, with fresh new colour-schemes and body proportions to better suit their appearance in the classic games. These changes include Venom's game-accurate blue colour scheme, War Machine's exaggerated shoulder pads, and various effects parts to simulate the special moves in the game, like Wolverine's Berserker Barrage claw effects and Silver Samurai's Shuriken. Being a Marvel toyline, the collection will understandably omit the Capcom side of the game's roster, so it remains to be seen if Hasbro will announce a separate line featuring iconic characters like Ryu, Chun-Li or Akuma sometime in the future. The line-up also barely scrapes the surface of the entire Marvel roster in the games, but at least for now, fans can make do with existing Marvel Legends releases until the announcement of a potential second wave. In addition, Hasbro has also announced its first wave of Fantastic Four: First Steps toys to coincide with the release of the movie on 25 July, including the titular trio of Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm and The Thing, alongside Johnny in his Human Torch form and the Silver Surfer. Pre-orders for the Marvel Legends Gamerverse action figures will open in June this year, with the figures expected to release in Fall 2025, with the Marvel Legends Fantastic Four First Steps line-up releasing in Summer 2025. Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. action figures Hasbro Marvel Marvel Legends marvel vs capcom
Geek Culture
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
Design & Build Your Own Gundam Gunpla Kit At Bandai Hobby Museum Japan This Sept
Bandai is opening a new Hobby museum in Shizuoka, Japan, on 2 September this year, allowing visitors to not only learn about the history of plastic model kits like Gunpla and how they're made, but also design their own Gundam model kits to take home. The Bandai Hobby Center Plamo Design Industrial Institute Museum (or BHC PDII Museum for short) will be opening at the Bandai Hobby Center building in Shizuoka, Japan, and will feature a 'Study Room' to learn about the history of plastic model kits, alongside windows to give visitors a first-hand look into the Gunpla making process, offering them a glimpse of the kits being made and packaged in the factory. Additionally, the museum experience will also include an interactive Laboratory Area, where visitors can try their hands at creating their own customised Gunpla kits, from choosing the colours and sizes of each piece of their Gundam creations using a screen, to laying out the pieces on their plastic runners and even designing their Gunpla's packaging. Museum staff will then handle the injection moulding process for visitors to bring home their unique creations. What's more, each creation will be graded, and Bandai Spirits employees will select the top three kits each month for an award. Visits to the BHC PDII Museum will require advanced reservation, with a ticket lottery beginning on 2 June due to the expected high demand. Non-Japanese speakers don't have to worry either, as all museum displays and guidance will also be available in English. The BHC PDII Museum will open at the Bandai Hobby Center building in Shizuoka, Japan, on 2 September 2025. More information can be found on the museum's official website. Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. bandai Bandai Spirits Gundam Gunpla Model Kit
Geek Culture
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
'Death Stranding' Anime In The Works From Hideo Kojima
It looks like Hideo Kojima is keeping busy with his Death Stranding franchise, as apart from a sequel and a live-action A24 film, the eccentric director has confirmed that an anime adaptation of the walking simulator is also in the works. Speaking to Vogue Japan, Kojima spoke on the upcoming live-action flick, a project in collaboration with A24 that recently welcomed A Quiet Place: Day One director Michael Sarnoski. In his closing remarks, he casually confirmed the existence of a Death Stranding anime adaptation that is currently in development. 'When it comes to film adaptations of games, there have been recent films like The Last of Us that keep the plot of the original intact, and films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie that are more like a service to game fans. Each of these works has its own merits, but as a film lover, I want to pursue expression as a film.' Kojima said in a translated transcript by VGC, 'I am aiming to make Death Stranding in a way that can only be done as a film, and that will win awards at the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival. In fact, we are also currently working on an anime adaptation.' Although this was just a brief confirmation, and no further details on the anime project's production studio were confirmed, it would be interesting to see how Kojima would adapt the Death Stranding universe into the anime space. Admittedly, the weird and sometimes confusing nature of the game's plot makes it quite the perfect fit for an anime, opening up the opportunity to expand upon its lore the same way Studio Trigger adapted CD Projekt's hit RPG with 2022's Cyberpunk: Edgerunners . On the gaming front, fans can look forward to the continuation of the franchise relatively soon, as the much-anticipated sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach , is due out on 26 June 2025, exclusively on the PS5. Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. Death Stranding Hideo Kojima Kojima Productions
