08.21.25 |
film |
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Smart, tailored film recommendations are one of the best ways to get friends and family more into movies. The right selection can open someone’s eyes to great cinema beyond Netflix originals and the occasional blockbuster at the local multiplex.
For many people, it’s not that movies are universally bad, it’s they rarely encounter films they really love. Local theaters show few films outside of big franchise blockbusters. Theaters are often old, with expensive tickets and unruly audiences. At home, algorithmic-based streaming recommendations tend to be poor and unfocused. Finding good movies can feel like chasing a moving target. Digital rental and streaming release dates are often unclear. Movies regularly shuffle in and out of streaming services every month.
However, through streaming services and digital rentals, a mainstream audience can access more high quality movies than ever before. Good recommendations in this landscape need minimal resistance. Access and convenience are key. Focus on movie recommendations from digital services your audience already uses regularly, be they monthly subscription services or rental stores. Services like JustWatch help to browse what’s available across multiple services.
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08.04.25 |
Gaming |
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Imagine a small box running SteamOS that easily pairs with a TV or monitor. It would be more powerful than a Switch 2 but cost under $400. This kind of hardware flopped a decade ago, but today it could attract a large audience. Against a gaming industry that faces widespread challenges, Valve stands out as one of the few companies to potentially disrupt the market with small form factor PCs. Sony and Nintendo wouldn’t face immediate threats from such a device. But the strengths of this Valve branded hardware — lets call it the Steam Machine 2 (SM2) — would be hard to beat. The SM2’s simplicity, breadth, and price would be virtually unrivaled.
This hardware would offer a largely console-like experience out of the box, refined through years of SteamOS iterations on the Steam Deck. Players would also get access to the largest, most diverse gaming library available. Steam’s catalog is practically endless, including longstanding franchise hits, indie viral streaming sensations, and most of Sony’s and Microsoft’s first party titles.
The SM2 would also be comparatively affordable. The hardware would be cheaper than a Switch 2 or PS5, without multiplayer access fees in the form of a PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass. Unlike games sold on console or physical marketplaces, most Steam games go on deep discount several times a year.
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