The $500 Commodore phone that nobody asked for There is a fine line between catering to nostalgia and exploitation, and the newly announced Commodore Callback 8020 might be stomping all over it. Christian Simpson, known online as Perifratic, has been the face of the Commodore brand's recent revival. While the **C64 Ultimate** was a genuine win for the community, this new mobile venture feels like a hardware fever dream. It is a flip phone running Sailfish OS, marketed as a "dumb phone" meant to reduce doomscrolling by blocking social media and browsers. Technically, it is a smartphone in a retro suit. It features a MediaTek Helio G81 processor and a surprisingly high-end ESS digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The marketing focuses on "mindful friction," essentially arguing that because it's harder to use T9 texting, you'll spend less time on it. However, the hardware community has been quick to point out that the device appears to be a rebranded Chinese feature phone that retails wholesale for around £25. When you slap a Commodore logo on it and charge upwards of £525 for a "Founders Edition," people are going to ask questions. The use of generative AI in the promotional trailer only adds to the sense that this project lacks the analog soul it claims to celebrate. GoldenEye XBLA finally escapes its Xbox 360 prison The saga of the cancelled GoldenEye 007 remaster for Xbox Live Arcade is one of the most famous "what-ifs" in gaming history. For years, the only way to play this 99% complete build from Rare was through an Xbox 360 emulator. This week, the preservation scene took a massive leap forward with the release of **GoldenEye Recon V 1.0**. This isn't just another emulation layer; it is a static recompilation of the original game code into a native Windows executable. By using the Rex Glue SDK, developer SunJC has essentially reverse-engineered the finished binary back into C++. The result is a version of GoldenEye that runs at a rock-solid 60fps with widescreen support and modern controller mapping. It even includes online multiplayer via Hamachi or public servers. To avoid legal fire from copyright holders, the project requires you to provide your own original game assets, which the script then builds into the PC version. It is arguably the definitive way to experience the seminal N64 shooter in the modern era, bypassing the lag and blurry textures of the original hardware. EU targets game publishers over "dead" digital titles The Stop Killing Games initiative, led by Ross Scott of Accursed Farms, has finally secured a seat at the table with the European Commission. The campaign addresses a growing rot in the industry: games that become unplayable the moment a publisher decides to switch off the servers. This isn't just about losing a favorite pastime; it's about the erasure of cultural heritage. While a car or a book works for decades, a digital game can be bricked by a corporate whim. In a major update, the European Commission announced it will engage with the industry by the end of 2026 to explore stricter standards. Currently, EU copyright law protects the publishers' right to their code, but consumer law is starting to push back. The commission notes that if a game is sold with an expiration date, that date must be clearly visible on the packaging. The ultimate goal is to force publishers to release "end-of-life" patches that allow for private server hosting or offline play. It is a long game, but the fact that the EU is now actively investigating the disabling of games is a significant win for consumer rights. Nightdive Studios revives the forgotten Sin While Half-Life and Quake II hogged the spotlight in 1998, a shooter called Sin was quietly pushing the Quake II engine to its absolute limits. Developed by Ritual Entertainment, it was remarkably ahead of its time, featuring hacking via a DOS-style terminal and branching paths based on player actions. Nightdive Studios has just released the launch trailer for **Sin Reloaded**, a full remaster running on their proprietary KEX Engine. Nightdive has built a reputation as the gold standard for preservation. They don't just upscale textures; they fix the logic bugs that plagued the original releases while maintaining the "feel" of the late-90s PC gaming era. Sin was notorious for its buggy launch, which many believe killed its chances against Valve's juggernaut. With Sin Reloaded, players can finally see what the developers intended: a high-interactivity world where you can pilot vehicles, hack cameras, and take area-specific damage. It is a classic example of a "diamond in the rough" getting the polish it deserved twenty years too late. The Commodore 64 gets the documentary it deserves The Commodore 64 remains the bestselling single computer model of all time, and its impact on the 80s coding culture cannot be overstated. Filmmakers Anthony Caulfield and Nicola Caulfield, the duo behind *From Bedrooms to Billions*, have launched a Kickstarter for a new documentary: *The Commodore 64: The Birth of a Cultural Icon*. This project aims to capture the global experience of the machine, from the screeching tape loads in Europe to the floppy disk dominance in the US. The film will feature interviews with the revived Commodore team and delve into the legacy of Jack Tramiel, the man who founded Commodore and later took over Atari. For many of us, the C64 wasn't just a toy; it was an entry point into engineering and electronics. Seeing the community rally to fund this documentary—already hitting nearly half of its £55,000 goal—proves that the appetite for tech history is stronger than ever. It is about more than nostalgia; it's about documenting the silicon foundation that modern computing was built upon. Legacy of a legend: RIP Bobby Prince The tech and gaming community lost a titan this week with the passing of Bobby Prince at the age of 81. Prince was the sonic architect behind the most iconic games of the 90s, including Doom, Wolfenstein 3D, and Duke Nukem 3D. His work at id Software defined an entire genre, blending heavy metal influences from bands like Pantera and Metallica with the technical limitations of FM synthesis. Prince was a Vietnam veteran and a lawyer before he became a composer, bringing a unique perspective to the industry. He understood that music in games wasn't just background noise; it was an emotional driver. The thumping, aggressive tracks of Doom (1993) are just as recognizable today as the game's pixelated shotgun. Tom Hall, co-founder of id Software, broke the news of his passing, sparking a wave of tributes from developers who were inspired by his ability to make a PC speaker scream. His contribution to the hardware and gaming landscape is permanent, etched into the memories of every player who ever navigated a Martian base in the dark.
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Jan 2018 • 1 videos
Steady coverage of Kickstarter. European Coffee Trip contributed to 1 videos from 1 sources.
Feb 2020 • 1 videos
Steady coverage of Kickstarter. European Coffee Trip contributed to 1 videos from 1 sources.
May 2023 • 2 videos
High activity month for Kickstarter. Lance Hedrick among the most active voices, with 2 videos across 1 sources.
Oct 2025 • 1 videos
Steady coverage of Kickstarter. Rees contributed to 1 videos from 1 sources.
May 2026 • 2 videos
High activity month for Kickstarter. Lance Hedrick and Rees among the most active voices, with 2 videos across 2 sources.
Jun 2026 • 1 videos
Steady coverage of Kickstarter. Rees contributed to 1 videos from 1 sources.
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The coffee world hasn't seen this much hype around a Kickstarter campaign in years. Timemore has disrupted the market with their Sculptor series, a lineup of four grinders—the 064, 064s, 078, and 078s—aimed at both filter enthusiasts and espresso purists. These machines, with their unique aesthetic often compared to vintage sewing machines, represent a significant pivot toward high-performance, single-dose grinding at a competitive price point. Design, Ergonomics, and the Motor Dilemma While the visual design is polarizing, the build quality shows a curious divergence across the lineup. The larger 078 models feel exceptionally robust, featuring a substantial 400W brushless DC motor that can rip through the densest light-roasted beans. The weighted catch cup on the 078 feels premium, utilizing a magnetic self-centering mechanism that avoids the jarring snap of cheaper alternatives. In contrast, the 064 series utilizes a smaller 180W motor. During testing with ultra-light roasts from roasters like Nomad Coffee, the 064s experienced occasional stalling. This isn't necessarily a deal-breaker for those who prefer medium to dark roasts, but for the light-roast specialty crowd, it suggests a limitation in torque. Furthermore, the variable RPM feature—ranging from 800 to 1400 on the larger model—is located at the rear of the machine. It's a sleek placement but practically forces the user to fly blind if the grinder is positioned against a kitchen wall. The Innovation of the Fines Collector Retention is the silent killer of grind quality, but Timemore has implemented a genuinely clever solution: the fines collector. Most modern grinders rely on bellows to blow out remaining grounds, but the Sculptor uses a rotary knocker. A simple twist of a dial vibrates the internal chamber, ejecting chaff and fines into the cup. In a rigorous test involving 10 kilograms of coffee, a full disassembly revealed only 0.18 grams of retained grounds. This is an astounding metric that beats almost every competitor in the price bracket. For filter coffee, this allows users to intentionally discard the final "click" of fines and chaff, leading to a much cleaner brew. For espresso, it ensures that your 19-gram dose actually results in a 19-gram output without the "faff" of RDT (Ross Droplet Technique) or messy bellows. Burr Geometry and Technical Friction The internal architecture of these grinders is where things get complicated. The "Turbo" or "Ghost" burrs found in the 078 are the stars of the show. They utilize a unique geometry that mimics the teeth of a ghost burr while adding the cutting edges of a flat burr. This combination results in a cup that offers the clarity of high-end flat burrs with a more robust, juicy body. However, users should be warned: switching burrs is a tedious process. Unlike the Fellow Ode, which allows for relatively easy burr swaps, the Sculptor series has incredibly tight tolerances and a complex internal assembly. The vertically mounted burr carriers require precise alignment of narrow and wide flaps. If you are a "modder" who likes to swap in SSP burrs weekly, this is not the machine for you. Timemore has even been conservative in their messaging, refusing to take responsibility for motor issues if third-party burrs are installed. Tasting Analysis: Espresso vs. Filter In blind cuppings, the 078 with Turbo burrs was the unanimous favorite. It outperformed the Fellow Ode equipped with SSP Multi-Purpose burrs, providing a more "juicy" and balanced profile. The 064 turbo burrs, while good, felt hollow and empty in comparison to its larger sibling. On the espresso front, the 078s produced vibrant, balanced shots with notes akin to watermelon starbursts. When pitted against the Niche Zero, both the 078s and 064s offered a more rounded acidity and better texture. The Niche Zero remains the king of workflow, but the Sculptor series is clearly winning the battle for cup quality in the flat-burr domain. Final Recommendation If you have the budget, the 078 is the definitive choice. It is quite simply some of the best coffee I've ever tasted from a home-consumer unit. The 064 series is a fantastic value at its Kickstarter price, but at full retail, the competition from the DF64V might make the decision more difficult. For most, the 078 stands as a new benchmark for what is possible in a sub-$1000 grinder.
May 5, 2023The High Stakes of Crowdsourced Caffeine Crowdfunding has revolutionized the way we bring innovative tools into our kitchens. It bypasses traditional gatekeepers, allowing enthusiasts to vote with their wallets for the next great brewing breakthrough. However, Kickstarter is not a retail store; it is a high-stakes gamble where backers trade their capital for a vision. In the specialty coffee world, this has led to both monumental industry shifts and heart-wrenching financial collapses. Understanding the mechanics of these projects reveals why some brands become household names while others vanish into bankruptcy. Why Ambition Often Leads to Disaster Failure in the coffee space frequently stems from over-promising on complex hardware. Take the ZPM Espresso Machine, which aimed to deliver commercial-grade PID control for a fraction of market costs. They attempted to use off-the-shelf parts to undercut competitors but ultimately folded under the weight of manufacturing realities. Similarly, Bonaverde attempted the 'holy grail' of a roast-grind-brew machine. Despite raising millions and achieving a massive valuation, critical design flaws forced a devastating recall. These projects prove that a great idea is worthless without a viable path to mass production and rigorous quality control. The Anatomy of a Global Success Success stories like Fellow demonstrate that starting small is the key to longevity. They didn't begin with a complex electric grinder; they started with the Duo Coffee Steeper. By mastering one product at a time and building a rapport with their community, they earned the trust required to launch the Ode Brew Grinder. This incremental approach allows a brand to refine its manufacturing and user interface, ensuring that by the time a product reaches your counter, it actually works. Precision as a Brand Foundation Acaia transformed the industry by focusing on a specific, underserved need: extreme precision. Their initial campaign for a minimalist scale was modest compared to the multi-million dollar failures, yet it birthed the Pearl, now an industry standard. By winning technical awards and integrating their technology into other high-end equipment, they moved beyond being a 'Kickstarter project' to becoming an essential pillar of the specialty coffee community. Success in this space requires more than just a clever pitch; it demands a commitment to technical excellence and professional-grade reliability. Lessons for the Modern Backer Before you pledge, look for more than just a slick video. The most resilient brands, such as Goat Story, transitioned from lifestyle accessories like the Goat Mug to sophisticated brewers like the GINA Smart Coffee Brewer. They proved their ability to ship physical goods before asking for larger sums. Respect for the ingredient begins with respect for the tools, and true culinary innovation requires a balance of daring vision and disciplined execution. Choose projects that value the craft as much as the capital.
Feb 7, 2020The Soul of the Origin True culinary mastery begins with a profound respect for the source. In 2017, European Coffee Trip transitioned from observers to chroniclers, venturing into the high altitudes of Tanzania. Standing on the slopes of Mount Monduli at the Mondul Coffee Estates provides a perspective no laboratory can replicate. Understanding the soil, the climate, and the hands that harvest these beans is essential for any professional. This documentary-style approach to coffee education elevates the beverage from a morning routine to a respected craft, reminding us that every cup carries the history of its landscape. Engineering the Perfect Extraction Technical skill requires reliable tools, and few pieces of equipment carry the heritage of the Moccamaster. Visiting their factory reveals the meticulous manufacturing processes that have remained consistent for over fifty years. It is a lesson in longevity and precision. Similarly, the AeroPress has redefined home brewing. By engaging with Alan Adler, the inventor himself, and the team at AeroPress Inc., we see the intersection of physics and flavor. These tools aren't just gadgets; they are the vessels through which we express the bean's potential. The Pulse of the Coffee Community Education thrives in a shared environment. Events like Barista Camp and Roaster Camp serve as the essential networking hubs where the next generation of talent is forged. Watching professionals like Petra Strelecka compete at the World Brewers Cup in Budapest showcases the discipline required at the highest levels. This community-driven focus, bolstered by a successful Kickstarter campaign for the AeroPress Movie, proves that the specialty coffee world is hungry for deep, technical storytelling and authentic connection. A Global Culinary Perspective From the labs of Daterra Coffee in Brazil to the bustling coffee scene in Seoul, the journey through 2017 highlights a global standard of excellence. Whether documenting the World Barista Championship or testing the latest innovations like the Prismo by Fellow, the goal remains the same: constant refinement. As we look back, the takeaway is clear—never stop questioning the technique and always honor the ingredient. What milestones defined your culinary year, and what skills are you looking to sharpen in 2018?
Jan 2, 2018