“Watches, Stories, and Gear” is a roundup of our favorite content, watch or otherwise, from around the internet. Here, we support other creators, explore interesting content that inspires us, and put a spotlight on causes we believe in. Oh, and any gear we happen to be digging on this week. We love gear.
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Header Image Via: Lexus
This past week, Lexus revealed the brand spanking new GX 550, and from the looks of the eye-catching SUV, it seems that the luxury automotive brand has hit all the right notes with its latest GX iteration. The GX 550 silhouette largely remains the same as the previous models, but it’s the subtle changes to the exterior that goes a long way and shifts the overall perspective from questionably-designed to damn-that-looks-good.
The Lexus GX 550 retains the spindle grille, a design applied to the GX series and to other models across their entire line back in 2014. The grille itself was an attempt to add an aggressiveness to the overall aesthetic and frankly, it was a miss, especially with the GX. The GX 550 rectifies all of our qualms with a new-look bumper and body design that looks attractive and cohesive. A few added contours to the SUV body evens out the proportions and as a result, the GX 550 is less angular and more boxier, harkening back to the beloved look of the 90’s Toyota Land Cruisers and Lexus LX’s. The two-tone colorway only strengthens our nostalgic feelings.
The Lexus GX 550 is also equipped with a set of 33-inch all-terrain tires, a 3.4L twin-turbo V6 capable of 476 lb-ft of torque and 8,000 lbs of towing capacity. All of these features wrap into an intriguing package and marks the first-ever Overtrail grade for Lexus. The starting retail price for the new SUX is still unclear, but delivery is slated for early next year. In the meantime, check out the entire breakdown of the Lexus GX 550 on Road & Track, here.
On the topic of “Overtrail”, let’s talk about one of the most undervalued pieces of overlanding gear you can have in the arsenal – the rooftop platform. Thule, a Swedish based company that focuses on cleverly designed vehicle storage and transportation systems, has a versatile rooftop platform called the Caprock. With its frame built out of aluminum, the Caprock can support up to 330lbs, so whether you want to throw a tent up on your rig or need a stable system for additional storage, Thule’s sturdy platform is a solid option for any overland adventure. The Caprock system also utilizes an intuitive mounting system and adjustable crossbars allows for a seamless installation onto any vehicle, including a GX 550 if you’re still thinking about it. For more information on the Caprock Platform and other Thule products, head on over here.
In the world of high-precision engineering, the most minute changes to existing technologies or the grandest of grand ideas that become reality, can lead to game changing innovation. The EPHJ trade show has been around for 20 years and is an annual event that brings professionals and innovators alike to discover the latest trends and technological advancements in the high-precision industry. The folks over at Monochrome Watches were on the scene at the most recent EPHJ show and they put together a compilation of interesting technologies that could potentially make their way into the world of horology. One in particular that caught our eye was the application of NFC technology into a sapphire crystal. It’s not groundbreaking, but the improvement in this space could add yet another fascinating connection between analog and digital. Check out Monochrome Watches’ coverage of the EPHJ show for the entire round-up.
Speaking of the future, we’re sure you’ve heard of Apple’s latest and controversial release of the Apple Vision Pro. It’s the brands take on the VR headset and runs the gamut in terms of built-in components that will easily transport you to a different world (it that’s where you virtually choose to go). The Apple Vision Pro is equipped with two micro-OLED displays that have a resolution over a 4K T.V., an Apple M2 processor, and 12 cameras, as well as 5 sensors for movement monitoring.
Even with the addition of what Apple calls ‘spatial computing’ which allows the user to still be aware of his/her surroundings while using the Vision Pro, the majority have mixed-feelings about Apple’s latest product launch. We’ve all been down this road before. We see a new Apple product, we question its use-case and price at first, and then it’s only a matter of time until said product becomes an intricate part of our daily lives. The Vision Pro however, seems like it will be a difficult sell, as the general idea of VR headsets is still relatively foreign and the retail price is a lip-biting $3,499.
There was a time when we’d all scoff at the idea of watching a movie or T.V. show with subtitles. The constant display of dialogue and sound descriptions constantly flashing across the screen used to be a source of displeasure (well, for most of us) and was solely limited to using its application when watching movies in a foreign language. But that’s not the case anymore with the rise in the amount of people watching their favorite shows and films with subtitles – the question is, why? We can most certainly make an argument that in some cases, subtitles do add to the watching-experience. For one, they help catch some of the witty writing that takes place which could get lost in plot pace or a visual-heavy scene. In other instances, the characters are just speaking way too low or our surrounding environment is just way too loud. Are you a subtitle-user or not? Let us know in the comments below.
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