Every so often a product lands on my desk that pulls me straight back to the excitement of discovering music on a physical format. This week it is the WE-001 Duran Duran Special Edition from We Are Rewind, a modern portable cassette player created with the band’s full blessing and visual flair.
Duran Duran teams up with We Are Rewind for a gorgeous new cassette player
If you grew up with cassettes, you will remember the thrill of flipping an album over, hearing the clunk of the keys, and watching the spools spin. This special edition brings all of that back with a welcome dose of modern engineering. Even better, it arrives with a fresh cassette reissue of Pop Trash, complete with those familiar metallic and neon touches that have always followed Duran Duran through their career.
Duran Duran teams up with We Are Rewind for a gorgeous new cassette player
A cassette player built for the present day
The WE-001 looks and feels like something from the band’s own design board. The aluminium shell has a satisfyingly weighty feel, the buttons have a smooth mechanical action, and the audio side of things has been taken very seriously. A dedicated headphone amplifier gives the tapes far more presence and clarity than the portable players many of us owned the first time round.
It connects to wireless headphones and speakers thanks to Bluetooth and charges by USB C, giving around twelve hours of playback. It even records. Plug in a powered mic or use the line input and you can capture your own mixtapes in proper analogue fashion.
For anyone who wants the full nostalgic experience, a pencil is included in the box. You know exactly what that is for.
Duran Duran teams up with We Are Rewind for a gorgeous new cassette player
A collaboration with real heart
The band’s creative art director Andrew Day summed up the project perfectly. When Pop Trash came out, streaming barely existed. Two and a half decades later, celebrating the album with a beautifully designed cassette player feels surprisingly right. He described the finished product as “more Pop and less Trash”, which is a very neat way of putting it.
We Are Rewind founder Romain Boudruche added that Duran Duran’s long history with physical media made the project a natural fit. At a time when music discovery is often reduced to an endless scroll of digital tracks, it is refreshing to see an artist celebrate the value of something you can actually hold.
Interestingly, UK cassette sales rose by more than two hundred percent in the first quarter of this year, so the timing could not be better.
Duran Duran teams up with We Are Rewind for a gorgeous new cassette player
Price and availability
The WE-001 Duran Duran Special Edition is priced at £149 and is available directly from We Are Rewind. If you are a fan of the band, a lover of physical media, or simply someone who enjoys a beautifully built gadget, this is well worth a look.
If you grew up in the 1980s, you’ll remember that unmistakable feeling of loading a game on your ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, or BBC Micro. The hypnotic screech of the cassette loading, the colour bars flickering on screen, and that eternal moment of suspense — would it load this time, or had the tape stretched just enough to doom you to a R Tape Loading Error?
Loading the KLF Adventure
Fast forward to the 2020s and, somewhere between my love of retro computing, The KLF’s music, and an itch to make something creative, I decided: I’m going to write a text adventure game. Not just any text adventure, but one dripping with late-night 80s energy, pop culture references, and a healthy dose of KLF mythology.
The KLF Adventure Begins
It started innocently enough — I wanted to relive the magic of the Scott Adams-style adventures I played as a kid. Those games weren’t about graphics; they were about imagination. Every location, every object, every strange instruction was something you had to picture in your head. And if you were a bit obsessive (guilty), you’d spend hours mapping every room on graph paper.
Finding the Right Ingredients
The KLF have always been masters of mystery — their story threads through pop hits, art projects, strange performances, and burning a million pounds on a remote Scottish island. That mix of chaos, humour, and myth-making was perfect for a game world.
I started building a map: fictional places merged with real ones from KLF history. Bold Street in Liverpool. The Cavern Club in the 1960s. A boathouse with a roaring fire. And, naturally, Trancentral — the spiritual HQ of The KLF. I even included surreal locations like the “Little Fluffy Cloud Factory” and “Maze of Caves” for that dreamlike adventure feel.
Travel Back in Time to The Cavern Club in 1961
The NPCs? Oh, they had to be special. Sigmund Freud gives cryptic instructions. Ivan Pavlov demands you “Lie Down” before telling you to “Keep Calm”. Even Denzil the Baker makes an appearance, along with other nods that KLF fans will appreciate.
Building It Like It’s 1984 — With a 2025 Twist
I didn’t just want to write about the 80s — I wanted it to feel like the 80s. So I coded the game in a modern environment but kept the old-school constraints: short descriptions, tight vocabulary, and a parser that understands commands like GO NORTH, GET TICKET, or SAY CHILLOUT.
Don’t get stuck in the record industry execs meeting!!!
But here’s the twist — I didn’t do it alone. My coding partners were Gemini CLI and OpenAI Codex, coding with me directly in my command line. The imagery was created using ChatGPT, with animations by Midjourney. The music came courtesy of Suno, while the sound effects were crafted by ElevenLabs. Together, these AI tools became my team of coders, designers, composers, and consultants, enabling me to bring this game to life in a way that would have been impossible on my own.
And because I couldn’t resist going full retro, I’ve also been experimenting with encoding the game into audio so it can be loaded into a ZX Spectrum emulator straight from a physical cassette tape. Because why not?
Timeslips abound in Bold Street with alternate timelines showing Mick Hucknall driving the Ice Kream Van!
The Result
What emerged is The KLF Adventure — part game, part interactive art piece, and part love letter to the days when imagination did the heavy lifting. It’s an 80s-inspired world you can explore, puzzle over, and get gloriously lost in. It rewards curiosity, nods knowingly to KLF lore, and might just make you say “What Time Is Love?” at least once.
For me, this wasn’t just a coding project. It was a way of reconnecting with that kid who sat cross-legged in front of a rubber-keyed Spectrum, waiting for the next adventure to begin. Only now, I’m the one writing the adventure — with a 21st-century team of AIs by my side.
You can even find me in the game… But where?
If you fancy diving in, the game is live at klfgame.co.uk. Just remember: keep your wits about you, don’t trust every whisper, and above all… CHILLOUT. Twice.
If you ever dreamed of flying through the trees of Endor like an Imperial Scout Trooper, that dream just took a huge leap toward reality.
On May 1st, 2025, Volonaut officially unveiled their jaw-dropping personal flight machine: the Airbike. Described as a cross between a superbike and a starfighter, the Airbike is a jet-propelled, single-seat hoverbike that looks like it’s been ripped straight out of a sci-fi film—specifically, Star Wars.
Here’s the video below!!
This groundbreaking vehicle is the brainchild of Tomasz Patan, the visionary engineer behind the Jetson ONE. The Airbike, however, ditches propellers in favour of compact jet engines, creating a safer, sleeker, and incredibly futuristic flying experience. It’s built using carbon fibre and 3D-printed parts, making it exceptionally light—seven times lighter than a conventional motorcycle. With speeds topping 200 km/h, it’s no surprise the internet has lit up with excitement.
But Volonaut didn’t stop at just launching a revolutionary vehicle. They’ve timed their big reveal to coincide with the biggest unofficial sci-fi holiday of them all: Star Wars Day.
Over the past few days, Volonaut has been teasing a special video drop scheduled for Sunday, May 4th—Star Wars Day—with a tantalising image of a rider dressed in full Imperial Scout Trooper gear standing next to the Airbike. The promise? A recreation of the unforgettable speeder bike chase from Return of the Jedi, shot through dense woodland, but this time with a real flying machine.
It’s not every day that technology catches up with our childhood imagination, but this might just be one of those times. As a long-time lover of gadgets, sci-fi, and anything that pushes boundaries, I’ll be watching this premiere with popcorn in hand and a big grin on my face.
Video Credit: YouTube / Volonaut
Star Wars Scout Trooper crounching next to the Volonaut Airbike ready for Star Wars Day on May the Forth – Image Credit: LinkedIn / Volonaut
We’ve all been there — that moment when the password box blinks impatiently, waiting for your brain to produce something secure and memorable. But what if I told you that billions of us are still relying on “123456” or “password” to guard our digital front doors?
Researchers at Cybernews have just released a fascinating and somewhat alarming analysis of 19,030,305,929 leaked passwords, and the findings tell a revealing story about human behaviour, pop culture obsessions, and our often lacklustre approach to security.
Only 6% of Passwords Are Unique – Let That Sink In
Out of 19 billion passwords, only 1.1 billion were unique. That means 94% of people are using the same passwords as someone else — and in the world of hacking, that’s music to a cybercriminal’s ears.
The most common passwords? You’ve guessed them:
“password” – used 56 million times
“admin” – 53 million times
“123456” – 338 million times
“1234” – found in nearly 4% of all passwords (that’s 727 million accounts!)
It’s 2025 and we’re still living in a world where “qwerty” and “abc123” are considered acceptable safeguards.
What We Love Shows Up in Our Passwords
The team at Cybernews created themed wordlists to understand what people use in their passwords. The results are both amusing and a little worrying.
Pop Culture Reigns Supreme
Characters like:
Mario (9.6M)
Batman (3.9M)
Joker (3.1M)
Thor (6.2M)
Elsa (2.9M)
Yes, even a magical ice queen made it onto the hacker’s dictionary.
Our Favourite Animals?
Lion (9.8M)
Fox (7.8M)
These majestic creatures might be noble, but they’re not secure.
Love, Tea, and Swear Words
“Love” appears in 87 million passwords.
Tea – our national treasure – is in 36 million!
And surprisingly (or not), words like “ass” (165M), “fuck” (16M), and “shit” (6.5M) are extremely common.
Seems like when people get frustrated with password rules, they get… expressive.
The Human Factor: Names, Cities, and Seasons
We seem to really love personal and familiar things:
Ana is the most-used name (178.8M times).
Rome is the top city (13M).
Summer (3.8M) leads the seasons, while May (28M) and April (5.2M) dominate the months.
Monday is weirdly the most popular weekday (800,000).
And professions like boss, cook, and hunter show up in millions of passwords. Is that confidence or wishful thinking?
Big Brands in Passwords: Not a Great Idea
Believe it or not, some people think referencing tech giants will protect them:
Google – 25.9M passwords
Facebook – 18.7M
Kia – 12.7M (your guess is as good as mine)
Why This Matters (and What You Should Do About It)
With only 6% of passwords being unique, dictionary attacks and credential stuffing become a walk in the park for bad actors. If your password is on one of these lists, your account could be next.
Top Tips for Better Passwords:
Use a Password Manager – Tools like Bitwarden, 1Password or KeePass make strong passwords easy.
Avoid Dictionary Words – Even “FrostyTheSnowman1983” isn’t safe if enough people use it.
Go Long and Complex – At least 12 characters, mixing letters, numbers, and symbols.
Don’t Reuse Passwords – Ever.
Turn On 2FA – Always enable two-factor authentication where possible.
The Bottom Line
Your password is often the only thing standing between your private data and a very bad day. The Cybernews report doesn’t just expose poor habits — it’s a stark reminder that humans are the weakest link in cybersecurity.
So, before you set your next password to “GadgetMan2025”, take a moment. You’re worth a better lock on your digital door.
Matt Porter – The Gadget Man
Have you checked your passwords recently? Would you like me to review any password manager tools for you next?
It’s official – Disney’s most lovable alien is back! With Lilo & Stitch returning to cinemas on May 23rd, fans old and new are buzzing with excitement. And to mark the occasion, the clever folks at EXG Pro are unleashing a brand-new wave of officially licensed Lilo & Stitch tech accessories that bring all of Stitch’s mischief, madness, and heart right to your desk.
EXG Pro Celebrates Lilo & Stitch’s Return to the Big Screen with a Chaos-Filled Collection of Tech Accessories
From earbuds hugged by Stitch’s tiny blue paws to phone holders that could double as miniature sculptures, this range is as functional as it is collectible. Whether you’re working from home or gaming into the night, Stitch is here to make sure your setup looks cool and stays tidy.
Meet the Line-Up: Functional Meets FUNctional
Stitch Buds Pro – £49.99
Stitch Buds Pro – £49.99
Bluetooth 5.3 earbuds in a custom Stitch case? Yes, please. The Stitch Buds Pro don’t just look adorable – they sound great too. Cradled in Stitch’s arms, this is equal parts pop culture tribute and high-performance audio kit. Available now at EXGPro.com.
Stitch Cable Guys: The Ultimate Desk Companions – £29.99 Each
Hula Stitch
Dressed in a grass skirt and ready to party, Hula Stitch is the perfect tropical tech stand. Whether you need to hold your phone, gaming controller or remote, he’s got your back with island vibes to spare.
Hula Stitch
Smiley Stitch
All grins and good energy, this joyful version of Stitch is a desk cheerleader that just so happens to be brilliant at holding your devices.
Smiley Stitch
Classic Stitch
This is Experiment 626 in his most iconic form – attitude, ears and all. He’s got the stability of a serious tech stand with the flair of a fan-favourite character.
Classic Stitch
Stitch Holdems: Pocket-Sized Personality – £19.99 Each
Loved Up Stitch
Puckered up and packed with love, Loved Up Stitch is a sweet spot for your earbuds or phone. A romantic little helper for anyone who’s soft on Stitch.
Loved Up Stitch
Badness Level Stitch
Wearing chaos like a badge of honour, Badness Level Stitch keeps things fun and functional. The ultimate choice for fans who love their Stitch with a little extra bite.
Badness Level Stitch
Sunset Stitch
Golden hour in a gadget stand. Sunset Stitch glows with tropical vibes and calm energy – ideal for mellowing out your workspace.
Sunset Stitch
Underpants Hero Stitch
Because why wouldn’t Stitch wear underpants over his fur? This hero-themed holder adds a dollop of humour and a whole lot of charm to your setup.
Underpants Hero Stitch
Gadget Man’s Take
This collection is pure joy in accessory form. It’s the kind of licensed merch that gets it right – quirky, useful, and collectible. Whether you’re a Disney devotee, a pop culture junkie, or just someone who wants their earbuds stored by an alien in a grass skirt, EXG Pro’s Lilo & Stitch range is a total win.
As the film makes its big-screen return, there’s never been a better time to invite Stitch into your home – not on the sofa, but on your desk, cradling your tech with chaos and love.
Available now at ExgPro.com – grab yours before Stitch eats them.
Sometimes, you have an idea so out there, you just have to run with it. That’s exactly what happened with my latest experiment—writing, editing, and publishing a book in under 24 hours. Yes, you read that right: Gizmos and Gadgets in Cockney by Matt Porter went from a concept swirling in my head to a fully published book faster than you can say “Bob’s your uncle.” Now, before you start expecting War and Peace or something that’ll win a Pulitzer, let me set the record straight: this book is meant to be a laugh. So, get that tongue planted firmly in your cheek and read on!
A Silly Idea Turned Into Reality
I’ve always loved Cockney rhyming slang. There’s something so playful and creative about it, and being a tech nerd, I thought, “Why not merge the two?” With that spark of inspiration and a challenge I set for myself, the idea was born: a humorous book that reimagines the world of tech with Cockney flair. Gizmos and Gadgets in Cockney would be a light, fun read for anyone who’s ever wondered what you’d call a smartphone (a “dog”) or a smart speaker (a “chirper”) in the East End’s colourful lingo.
But then I upped the stakes: I decided to see if I could write, edit, and publish the whole thing in less than 24 hours. Why? Because life’s too short not to try ridiculous things.
You can buy and read Gizmos and Gadgets in Cockney right now and very soon in physical paperback at https://amzn.to/40QzUnI
Don’t Expect High Art—This Is Pure, Unfiltered Fun
Let’s be clear: you’re not about to read a literary masterpiece. This isn’t War and Peace or The Great Gatsby. It’s more like a mate telling you stories down the pub, but instead of talking about football, I’m rambling about gadgets and tech in Cockney slang. This book was written fast, with lots of tea, laughter, and a “who-cares-if-it’s-not-perfect” attitude. If you’re looking for a deep exploration of tech or a polished manual, you might be barking up the wrong tree.
But if you’re after a book that doesn’t take itself seriously, one that pokes fun at tech jargon while teaching you some cheeky Cockney phrases, this might be your cup of rosie-lee.
The Writing Process: Fuelled by Tea and Banter
Once the idea hit me, I got to work with one goal: get it done before the clock ran out. I wrote chapter after chapter, each filled with witty slang, light-hearted anecdotes, and ridiculous comparisons between tech gadgets and everyday London life. Need to know why Wi-Fi is like a “Skyhook” or why a computer’s operating system is the “Guv’nor”? I’ve got you covered.
To keep it fun and breezy, I didn’t worry too much about polishing every sentence. It was all about the charm, the humour, and the Cockney twist. The result? A book that feels like a good ol’ natter with a mate—unpolished, maybe a bit rough around the edges, but full of character.
Editing and Formatting: It’s Good Enough
I gave the manuscript a quick once-over (yes, quick), fixing the obvious typos and ensuring the Cockney slang made sense. But did I spend hours agonising over sentence structure or tweaking every paragraph? Absolutely not. This was about speed and spirit, not perfection. Think of it like street food: messy, but oh-so-satisfying.
I also threw in a handy Cockney slang glossary at the end, so you can brush up on your rhyming slang while giggling at the tech comparisons.
The Cover: Simple, Bold, and Straight to the Point
When you’ve only got 24 hours, you don’t spend ages designing a cover that rivals The Da Vinci Code. I kept it simple and bold, with the title front and centre: Gizmos and Gadgets in Cockney by Matt Porter. The cover hints at the humour inside without giving too much away—exactly how I like it.
Publishing: The Final Countdown
With just minutes to spare, I uploaded the book to the publishing platform, hit “Publish,” and breathed a sigh of relief. I did it! A fully published book in less than a day.
Why I Did It
Let’s face it, we all overthink things sometimes. This project was a reminder to embrace spontaneity, take risks, and have fun with creativity. You don’t always need months of preparation or endless rewrites to make something worth sharing. Sometimes, done is better than perfect.
Gizmos and Gadgets in Cockney isn’t meant to change your life, but it just might make you chuckle, and that’s good enough for me.
What to Expect When You Read It
Lots of laughs: If you’ve ever struggled to explain tech to your nan or been baffled by a new gadget, you’ll feel right at home.
Cockney charm: From “whirligigs” to “dog and bones,” the slang is in full force.
Zero seriousness: This book is pure entertainment, so don’t come looking for an academic breakdown of microchips.
Final Thoughts: Take It with a Pinch of Salt (and a cup of ‘rosie’)
If you’re the kind of reader who enjoys a bit of banter, a bit of tech, and a whole lot of Cockney rhyming slang, this book is for you. But remember: it’s all in good fun. Don’t take it too seriously—just sit back, grab a cuppa, and enjoy the ride.
So, there you have it. My little 24-hour experiment, wrapped up and ready for you to enjoy. Gizmos and Gadgets in Cockney is out now on Kindle and will be available very soon in paperback (As soon as I have approved the… Proof), and I hope it brings you as many laughs reading it as I had writing it.
Cheers,
Matt Porter
February 2025
📚 Want a bit of tech banter with a Cockney twist? Grab your copy of Gizmos and Gadgets in Cockney on Kindle now, and don’t forget to keep that tongue firmly in cheek.
