John Spahr
Clicks Communicator: My Thoughts
Feb 2, 2026
Recently, a product announcement piqued my interest. Behold, the Clicks Communicator! To put it simply, this is a modern, Android-powered, BlackBerry-like keyboard phone. And I want so badly to be excited for it.
Theoretically, it has everything I need: Full access to the Play Store, Android Auto, modern specs, long-term update support, and 5G connectivity.
What rubs me the wrong way is how it's been announced. I think it's odd to be taking early bird preorders without even showing a working demo of the product. Even if a refund would be issued if things feel through, a competent phone is a very hard product to make. Not having a working prototype to show us and relying on 3D models does not inspire confidence.
It's for this reason that I have not preordered. Even though early birds get a sizable discount, I don't want to gamble on a product that might have a lot of issues and I haven't even seen yet. To its credit, Clicks has released multiple keyboard accessories already, but those are a lot less involved than making a proper modern(ish) phone.
If it works well, though, then I'm all in. My iPhone 15 Pro has some great things about it, like iMessage, Mac integration, and all the perks of a flagship smartphone. The problem is that it feels like a burden to me. I don't believe that buying a product is the right way to fix your relationship with technology at all, but I do think a phone less tailored to doom scrolling could be nice.
There are a lot of unknowns, and this first-generation product could really suck... Assuming it sees the light of day. I have no doubts about the talent or expertise of the Clicks team. Hell, I've been watching Mr. Mobile religiously since 2018. It's just that there are a lot of hurdles, and I'd rather pay the premium than gamble on it.
I guess by the standards of my Risk Management Insurance class, that makes me risk-averse. But I will take the leap of faith if the Communicator makes it to production and works well enough. Even if it has some flaws, I'm still all in. I love physical keyboards and the idea of owning something unique. That said, only time will tell. Fingers crossed.
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Games I've Played Recently
Jan 31, 2026
The Xbox 360 was my childhood, and I've recently gotten back into playing it. Here are the games I've been enjoying and my thoughts on them:
- Portal 1/2: I played through both Portals on the 360, and it was a blast. I seriously think that Portal 2 is one of the best games ever made. The characters are delightful (Wheatley, my beloved) and exploring the different phases of Aperture is super cool. It's a must play for the system.
- Minecraft: This one is pretty basic. I still think console edition is awesome, though. I don't care for Bedrock.
- Terraria: I've had fun with Terraria. I haven't killed any bosses or anything yet, but mining has been fun. Great game and a cozy play.
- Mirror's Edge: What an underrated game. The visuals are beautiful, as is the music. It pissed me off on many occasions, but finishing it was so rewarding. Faith's parkour mechanics are very unforgiving, but that works in the game's favor. This game deserves a lot more love.
- Bejeweled 2: Best Bejeweled soundtrack and a lot of fun puzzles.
- Battle Block Theater: Quirky platformer with fun multiplayer. Good stuff.
- Alan Wake: I just started this one! The story is intriguing and the flashlight mechanic is really unique. I've been having a great time with it thus far.
The 360 has so many great games, so it should keep me entertained for many more years. The new Xboxes may be technically superior, but the 360 is timeless and way more interesting to me. I adore it! And seriously, these games are great. Try them out!
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What's Good?
Jan 30, 2026
Welcome to the blog! These will be bite-sized posts about anything that interests me. Think of it like a microblog. Making this 90s-inspired website has been on my bucket list, and it's incredible to see it finally materializing. This will be the start of something great. So, buckle up, because this blog is about to get crazy. Woohoo!
If you're interested, the code for this site is open source!