Hipsta Espresso: Issue #1 - The Pilot

I’ve started working on my thesis, and I figured why wait forever to drop a massive long-read that I simply don't have time for right now? Short writing sessions for big texts drain too much energy, as every time I have to re-immerse myself in what I wanted to say and where I left off.

So, I’m launching (possibly for good) the Hipsta Espresso format to share cool stuff more often. I had a free week before the thesis madness kicked in, and I decided to make the most of it. Here’s what caught my eye.

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Resident Evil Requiem

I’m not really a horror fan. You know, all those jump scares, hardcore difficulty, and monsters leaping out from around corners... I hadn't played the previous 'Resi' installments, only watched reviews. But as much as this part seemed creepy at first, it turned out to be absolutely awesome.

The game brilliantly captures the character contrast: the fear felt by Grace, who has endured loss, and the unwavering confidence of the veteran Leon. Bravissimo. Playing as each feels completely different, and the plot is twisted in a way that the scary scenes only add to the thrill. Plus, the game doesn't get tedious crafting and looting are perfectly balanced, and the shifts in genre and style happen exactly when you start getting used to them. Highly recommended.

Hijack (Захваченный рейс)

A continuation of the excellent series from Apple. If you missed the first season - go watch it now. Idris Elba in the lead role is just top-tier.

He’s also the author and performer of the song 'Biggest,' which was featured, if I recall correctly, in an iPhone 14 ad. That ad was eventually pulled because people kept mishearing the word 'Biggest' as a racial slur (replacing the B with an N). Anyway, the second season hasn't dropped the ball; it’s just as tense and dynamic.

Subscription Day 2 Calendar

Yet another subscription tracker, damn it. But! This app won me over with its simplicity. The idea is basic but very visual: all your charges are displayed simply as a calendar. One glance, and you know exactly when and how much money will fly off your card. Maximum convenience.

A Million-Dollar Feature

The app Remind me faster is for instantly sending tasks to the standard 'Reminders' app. I’ll say right now, it’s worth every cent. In my opinion, the little detail the developer came up with is genius. Here’s the deal: if you start typing a task and get distracted (someone calls you, a message arrives), a Live Activity immediately pops up saying: 'Hey, you forgot to finish writing your task,' and shows part of what you already typed. In the daily hustle, it’s a lifesaver.

Re:mindr - Quick Reminders

Thanks to Alexey for this app (shoutout to you). You could say he nudged me into including it here. At first, I didn't see the appeal, but then I really felt it.

Nowadays, everyone is building 'spaceships' in Things, Reminders, or Todoist, but many people don't need all that. They just need to write something down so they don't forget it. This app is the perfect balance: it looks stylish and understands natural language. Type 'Buy bread tomorrow at 12:25' or 'Pick up documents from XY the day after tomorrow at 10:00,' and the notification arrives exactly on time. No cluttered menus.

Schedule Organization

If you've ever thought about building a schedule, you might have stumbled upon similar apps. But I find Structured to be the absolute ideal in this regard. Let me explain. A calendar is great, obviously. There's nothing better than the standard Apple Calendar (I wrote about Finalist in my article here, which has some standout features), and the native calendar is almost perfect in every way. However, there are things that would simply overload the system if you put them in a calendar or a task manager. For example, if a child's school schedule changes daily (Mon/Wed until 16:00, Tue/Thu until 15:00) and you need to pick them up at a specific time, putting that into a calendar is a bad idea. This is where Structured shines. It imports events from your calendar and clearly shows the 'gaps' between them, helping you create a solid daily plan without cluttering your main system.

The Update We (or at least I) Were Waiting For

While I was finishing this post, an update for Quick Notes - Capture dropped. And, drumroll, please, they added a native Apple Watch app. Now you can toss in ideas with a couple of taps on the go, even when your phone is lying in another room. Handy.

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P.S. Overall, while the thesis is trying to swallow all my free time, these short 'escapes' into normal life with a good movie or a couple of hours in Resident Evil are what keep me from burning out completely. Remember, even when you're buried in work, it’s important to find time for things that bring genuine pleasure or just make the chaos around you a bit more orderly.

I hope something from this list proves useful to you as well. Take care of your time and don't forget to rest.

If you liked this 'short film' format, let me know in the comments or with reactions. I’ll try to do these digests more often.