Oliver Haslam
@oliverhaslam.com
I write words. Recently AppleInsider, CNET, iMore, TechRader, Pocket-lint, and more – Business: oliver at http://monkeymanmedia.com
Pixel Fun, a weekly newsletter about tech, gaming, and anything with a screen. newsletter.pixelfun.tech
Pixel Fun, a weekly newsletter about tech, gaming, and anything with a screen. newsletter.pixelfun.tech
Downloaded the Switch 2 Pragmata demo and it asked my age. Then couldn’t believe someone so old was playing so now I’m going to bed in a huff.
Just need to make a mug of hot cocoa and get my favourite cardigan ready for the morning first.
Just need to make a mug of hot cocoa and get my favourite cardigan ready for the morning first.
February 5, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Downloaded the Switch 2 Pragmata demo and it asked my age. Then couldn’t believe someone so old was playing so now I’m going to bed in a huff.
Just need to make a mug of hot cocoa and get my favourite cardigan ready for the morning first.
Just need to make a mug of hot cocoa and get my favourite cardigan ready for the morning first.
I'm buying a house, and those things aren't cheap. So I did a thing on LinkedIn. If you're in charge of a freelance budget, I'd appreciate it if you checked it out! And if you aren't, shares are always welcome.
www.linkedin.com/posts/ojhasl...
www.linkedin.com/posts/ojhasl...
January 27, 2026 at 1:43 PM
I'm buying a house, and those things aren't cheap. So I did a thing on LinkedIn. If you're in charge of a freelance budget, I'd appreciate it if you checked it out! And if you aren't, shares are always welcome.
www.linkedin.com/posts/ojhasl...
www.linkedin.com/posts/ojhasl...
Also breaking my self-imposed BSky exile to ponder what Apple employees might think about their CEO waddling down to Trump’s gaff to watch a movie about his wife.
Unrelated: I’ve never been a big Signal user. But if I was, I’d probably have the username oliverhaslam.01. Probably.
Unrelated: I’ve never been a big Signal user. But if I was, I’d probably have the username oliverhaslam.01. Probably.
January 26, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Also breaking my self-imposed BSky exile to ponder what Apple employees might think about their CEO waddling down to Trump’s gaff to watch a movie about his wife.
Unrelated: I’ve never been a big Signal user. But if I was, I’d probably have the username oliverhaslam.01. Probably.
Unrelated: I’ve never been a big Signal user. But if I was, I’d probably have the username oliverhaslam.01. Probably.
Meanwhile, the BBC doesn't know the difference between "awhile" and " a while".
Returning from the void to note the interesting linking etiquette going on here. TR credits Notebookcheck with the spot even though Notebookcheck credited PCMag as the source, which it doesn't actually link to.
Amazing work all round. No wonder the web's dying.
www.techradar.com/computing/ma...
Amazing work all round. No wonder the web's dying.
www.techradar.com/computing/ma...
Later this year Google Chrome is dropping support for older macOS versions – find out if you're affected
If you're running an older Mac or MacBook, you might have to think about an upgrade if you want to keep using Chrome.
www.techradar.com
January 26, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Meanwhile, the BBC doesn't know the difference between "awhile" and " a while".
Returning from the void to note the interesting linking etiquette going on here. TR credits Notebookcheck with the spot even though Notebookcheck credited PCMag as the source, which it doesn't actually link to.
Amazing work all round. No wonder the web's dying.
www.techradar.com/computing/ma...
Amazing work all round. No wonder the web's dying.
www.techradar.com/computing/ma...
Later this year Google Chrome is dropping support for older macOS versions – find out if you're affected
If you're running an older Mac or MacBook, you might have to think about an upgrade if you want to keep using Chrome.
www.techradar.com
January 26, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Returning from the void to note the interesting linking etiquette going on here. TR credits Notebookcheck with the spot even though Notebookcheck credited PCMag as the source, which it doesn't actually link to.
Amazing work all round. No wonder the web's dying.
www.techradar.com/computing/ma...
Amazing work all round. No wonder the web's dying.
www.techradar.com/computing/ma...
Not to be *that* guy, but I’ve come to the realisation that I need to be less chronically online. It’s getting in the way of *everything* and I’m going to take a step back.
I realise that might be a problem given my line of work, but it’s time to bite the bullet and try.
I realise that might be a problem given my line of work, but it’s time to bite the bullet and try.
January 19, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Not to be *that* guy, but I’ve come to the realisation that I need to be less chronically online. It’s getting in the way of *everything* and I’m going to take a step back.
I realise that might be a problem given my line of work, but it’s time to bite the bullet and try.
I realise that might be a problem given my line of work, but it’s time to bite the bullet and try.
I’ve been there and done that. It didn’t end well.
I’ve learned that a little ignorance and a lot of play is needed at these times more than most. And I refuse to feel guilty for it.
It’s that, or I lose myself to the anger and frustration. And I won’t let them win like that.
I’ve learned that a little ignorance and a lot of play is needed at these times more than most. And I refuse to feel guilty for it.
It’s that, or I lose myself to the anger and frustration. And I won’t let them win like that.
This! I see people in replies to posts about games, silly movies, funny videos, and trailers etc going
"Hard to enjoy this while Minnesota is..."
Or
"We need to focus on..."
Stop! If all you do is fight you will burn out and help nobody. You gotta enjoy your life.
Live to live, not to fight.
"Hard to enjoy this while Minnesota is..."
Or
"We need to focus on..."
Stop! If all you do is fight you will burn out and help nobody. You gotta enjoy your life.
Live to live, not to fight.
I'm gonna say this with all the kindness in my heart: you aren't going to survive if you don't let your life have room for other things.
This is not a short term fight where we can just go 24/7 and then it will be over. We've got YEARS ahead of us. Take a break. Hydrate. Go bake something. Breathe.
This is not a short term fight where we can just go 24/7 and then it will be over. We've got YEARS ahead of us. Take a break. Hydrate. Go bake something. Breathe.
January 18, 2026 at 4:39 PM
I’ve been there and done that. It didn’t end well.
I’ve learned that a little ignorance and a lot of play is needed at these times more than most. And I refuse to feel guilty for it.
It’s that, or I lose myself to the anger and frustration. And I won’t let them win like that.
I’ve learned that a little ignorance and a lot of play is needed at these times more than most. And I refuse to feel guilty for it.
It’s that, or I lose myself to the anger and frustration. And I won’t let them win like that.
I’m not sure which of those two covers I prefer but I know it’s both of them.
Just got boxes of final US and UK editions of my book. I'm so thrilled about this, I truly worked so hard on it.
"Anyone who cares about interactive entertainment will be delighted by this book." -Tom Bissell
It's out next month - pre-order and book tour links through here linktr.ee/super_nintendo
"Anyone who cares about interactive entertainment will be delighted by this book." -Tom Bissell
It's out next month - pre-order and book tour links through here linktr.ee/super_nintendo
January 18, 2026 at 4:37 PM
I’m not sure which of those two covers I prefer but I know it’s both of them.
I mean, if someone with a surname like Schmidt wanting to “acquire” a country doesn’t ring alarm bells I don’t know what to tell you.
I’m sure we’ve been here before.
I’m sure we’ve been here before.
January 18, 2026 at 4:36 PM
I mean, if someone with a surname like Schmidt wanting to “acquire” a country doesn’t ring alarm bells I don’t know what to tell you.
I’m sure we’ve been here before.
I’m sure we’ve been here before.
Seeing @dannyodwyer.bsky.social and his awesome Xbox birthday cake reminded me of our Xbox 360 wedding cake from back in the day. Everyone thought we were crazy 😆
January 16, 2026 at 11:55 AM
Seeing @dannyodwyer.bsky.social and his awesome Xbox birthday cake reminded me of our Xbox 360 wedding cake from back in the day. Everyone thought we were crazy 😆
Hold the phone. Am I the only one who didn't know (or likely forgot) that you can press opt+shift when pressing the volume keys on a Mac to switch to 1/4 increments?
Life. Changed.
Life. Changed.
January 15, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Hold the phone. Am I the only one who didn't know (or likely forgot) that you can press opt+shift when pressing the volume keys on a Mac to switch to 1/4 increments?
Life. Changed.
Life. Changed.
Noah Wiley poking fun at Trump and the Kennedy we all like to forget is the best thing you’ll see on the internet this week. Maybe month.
www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/kim...
www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/kim...
TV’s Greatest Doctor and Star of ‘The Pitt’ Roasts Trump and RFK Jr.
Noah Wyle’s skit mocked the Trump administration and its dangerous healthcare claims.
www.thedailybeast.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Noah Wiley poking fun at Trump and the Kennedy we all like to forget is the best thing you’ll see on the internet this week. Maybe month.
www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/kim...
www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/kim...
How long before someone gets banged up because a glorified customer service chatbot thinks they should be?
UK police have blamed Microsoft Copilot for an intelligence mistake. Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant made up a non-existent football match and British police included the mistake in an intelligence report. Yikes. Details on the Copilot mistake here👇 www.theverge.com/news/861668/...
UK police blame Microsoft Copilot for intelligence mistake
Copilot invented a football match that never happened
www.theverge.com
January 14, 2026 at 1:24 PM
How long before someone gets banged up because a glorified customer service chatbot thinks they should be?
I know I’m late to the game but can we talk about having to buy individual licenses to use Dolby Atmos or DTS:X with your headphones on the Xbox?
What a time to be alive.
What a time to be alive.
January 11, 2026 at 12:06 PM
I know I’m late to the game but can we talk about having to buy individual licenses to use Dolby Atmos or DTS:X with your headphones on the Xbox?
What a time to be alive.
What a time to be alive.
I might be in the minority, but I think this Mario Tennis Switch 2 trailer looks brilliant.
Sign. Me. Up.
youtu.be/RSyoMsWRL9I
Sign. Me. Up.
youtu.be/RSyoMsWRL9I
Mario Tennis Fever – Overview Trailer – Nintendo Switch 2
YouTube video by Nintendo of America
youtu.be
January 8, 2026 at 3:45 PM
I might be in the minority, but I think this Mario Tennis Switch 2 trailer looks brilliant.
Sign. Me. Up.
youtu.be/RSyoMsWRL9I
Sign. Me. Up.
youtu.be/RSyoMsWRL9I
I'm looking for recommendations for something that seems a bit of a unicorn. I need a wireless gaming headset that's good, although not necessarily the best. But... it needs to work with everything.
That means PC, Xbox Series X, PS5, and Switch 2.
Looking for personal recs if you have them pls.
That means PC, Xbox Series X, PS5, and Switch 2.
Looking for personal recs if you have them pls.
January 6, 2026 at 4:18 PM
I'm looking for recommendations for something that seems a bit of a unicorn. I need a wireless gaming headset that's good, although not necessarily the best. But... it needs to work with everything.
That means PC, Xbox Series X, PS5, and Switch 2.
Looking for personal recs if you have them pls.
That means PC, Xbox Series X, PS5, and Switch 2.
Looking for personal recs if you have them pls.
Are any of my followers Arc Raiders players? Tempted to pick it up while it’s on sale but I’ve heard mixed reports about the PvP element.
January 5, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Are any of my followers Arc Raiders players? Tempted to pick it up while it’s on sale but I’ve heard mixed reports about the PvP element.
I'm not one for gate keeping, but I'm also not entirely sure I'm all that interested in what Top Gear thinks are the best games of 2025.
January 4, 2026 at 12:04 PM
I'm not one for gate keeping, but I'm also not entirely sure I'm all that interested in what Top Gear thinks are the best games of 2025.
How long will it be before the rest of the planet decides it’s time to pop on over to the White House and kidnap Trump before he does any more damage?
I mean, that’s how things are done now, right?
I mean, that’s how things are done now, right?
January 3, 2026 at 4:58 PM
How long will it be before the rest of the planet decides it’s time to pop on over to the White House and kidnap Trump before he does any more damage?
I mean, that’s how things are done now, right?
I mean, that’s how things are done now, right?
Probably a surprise to nobody that the iPhone Air took a spot on the list of my five favourite bits of tech from 2025.
As 2025 draws to a close, attention is turning to all the tech to come, but before that, it's time to look back at some of the best tech Oliver Haslam has used throughout this year.
Oliver's best tech in 2025: iPhone Air, earbuds, and an iPhone Fold teaser
As 2025 draws to a close, attention is turning to all the tech to come, but before that, it's time to look back at some of the best tech Oliver Haslam has used throughout this year.
appleinsider.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:11 PM
Probably a surprise to nobody that the iPhone Air took a spot on the list of my five favourite bits of tech from 2025.
Are you, or does anyone have, a good media contact for Amazon’s Kindle PR team?
I’m working on a thing…
I’m working on a thing…
January 2, 2026 at 11:19 AM
Are you, or does anyone have, a good media contact for Amazon’s Kindle PR team?
I’m working on a thing…
I’m working on a thing…
Listening to LinkedIn and Figma ads for AI features on The Vergecast when @davidpierce.xyz and co. so regularly put AI in its place suggests whatever ad tech is being used doesn’t work very well 😆
Or worse, someone is placing them and has no idea what they’re doing.
Or worse, someone is placing them and has no idea what they’re doing.
December 30, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Listening to LinkedIn and Figma ads for AI features on The Vergecast when @davidpierce.xyz and co. so regularly put AI in its place suggests whatever ad tech is being used doesn’t work very well 😆
Or worse, someone is placing them and has no idea what they’re doing.
Or worse, someone is placing them and has no idea what they’re doing.
If you look veeeerry closely, you’ll see Putin’s arm up Trump’s arse.
Trump: "Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed. It sounds a little strange but President Putin was very generous in his feeling toward Ukraine succeeding, including supplying energy, electricity and other things at very low prices."
December 29, 2025 at 7:04 PM
If you look veeeerry closely, you’ll see Putin’s arm up Trump’s arse.
I can't recommend running your own Pi-hole DNS server enough. 66% of the house's requests are served by a local cache, and 8% are served by a local DNS forwarder which has its own cache on top of that.
The remainder are just blocked. Lovely stuff.
The remainder are just blocked. Lovely stuff.
December 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM
I can't recommend running your own Pi-hole DNS server enough. 66% of the house's requests are served by a local cache, and 8% are served by a local DNS forwarder which has its own cache on top of that.
The remainder are just blocked. Lovely stuff.
The remainder are just blocked. Lovely stuff.