Garmin is celebrating World Sleep Day with the launch of new Pokémon Sleep watch faces. The watch faces are available now for free in the Connect IQ™ Store for select smartwatches, including fēnix®, Forerunner®, Venu® and vívoactive® products.
Track energy levels throughout the day
Choose between two watch faces – the “Pokémon Sleep: Snorlax & Friends” features multiple Pokémon (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pikachu and Snorlax) on Greengrass Isle while the “Pokémon Sleep: I Choose You” allows customers to choose one Pokémon from 48 options.
The Pokémon poses on both watch faces will change throughout the day – from happy and smiling to tired and sleepy – based on the user’s Body Battery™ energy levels.
To help better prepare for bedtime, the watch face’s night mode will switch on 1.5 hours before the customer’s scheduled sleep time setting in the Garmin Connect™ app.
Garmin customers can download the Pokémon Sleep watch faces now in the Connect IQ Store. In addition, select Garmin devices are also now compatible with Pokémon Sleep1 for syncing sleep data with the Pokémon Sleep mobile app.
The Connect IQ Store is an all-in-one source for Garmin customers looking to personalise their compatible Garmin devices. With thousands of options to choose from, users can download apps, watch faces, music streaming services and more right to their device. The Connect IQ Store is accessible through the Google Play and Apple App Store. For developers interested in creating on-device applications for Garmin customers around the world, visit the Connect IQ developer site.
1 Requires a compatible smartphone with the Garmin Connect and Pokémon Sleep apps downloaded, and user-enabled sharing through supported mobile platforms. Pokémon Sleep is intended for entertainment purposes only and is not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, or treatment of any medical condition or disease.
Pokémon NFT packs have become sought-after due to the rare cards they can contain, combined with the thrill of opening a pack without knowing what’s inside. Read on to discover a list of the leading online marketplaces selling tokenized Pokémon card mystery packs, so you can get in on the virtual pack-ripping fun.
Key Takeaways
Pokémon NFT packs have become highly sought-after for their fun pack-opening experience, chance at rare cards, and instant buyback options.
Most marketplaces offer similar features, but they differ in terms of size and available liquidity.
Magic Eden’s Pokémon NFT marketplace has emerged as the best choice due to its large user base, fun gamified pack-opening experience, and deep liquidity.
What Is a Pokémon NFT Pack?
A Pokémon NFT pack is a digital mystery pack containing a rare or exclusive Pokémon card NFT that represents the real physical card stored in a secure vault.
Pokémon NFT packs are in great demand as opening them is a lot of fun, and almost every pack gives collectors a chance to pull a valuable chase card.
What’s more, they’re considered a low-risk purchase, thanks to the buyback options available on all the platforms featured in this guide.
Top Marketplaces to Buy Pokémon NFT Packs
Now, let’s take a look at the marketplaces that allow you to buy and virtual rip Pokémon NFT packs.
Magic Eden
Magic Eden is one of the leading NFT marketplaces by trading volume and market share. It features Pokémon NFT packs with access to an active secondary market with deep liquidity.
Platform Overview
Magic Eden’s Pokémon NFT Packs marketplace was created in partnership with Collector Crypt, another platform featured in this guide. It’s a perfect match for collectors who want to trade more actively, with the option to redeem the physical card if they want to.
You can expect a fun and thrilling pack-ripping experience here, with animated visual reveals, rarity-tier highlights, and shareable moments. But Magic Eden’s biggest advantage lies in the size of its user base.
There is a huge community of NFT traders creating demand for unique Pokémon NFTs and providing deep liquidity. This creates more opportunities to sell the rarer pulls more quickly and at a favorable price.
Pokémon NFT Pack Offerings
After ripping a limited pack, ME lets users list the pulled NFT on the secondary market in seconds, taking advantage of the marketplace’s strong liquidity during drop hype windows.
Unique Pack Features
Magic Eden offers a gamified pack-ripping experience where cards reveal instantly, display rarity highlights, and become tradable on the secondary market immediately, giving collectors a fast path from rip to resale.
Collector Crypt
Collector Crypt is a specialized platform that mints and sells limited-edition NFT packs. It focuses on authentication, secure vaulting, and easy redemption of Pokémon (and other) trading cards.
Platform Overview
If you want to get the latest limited-edition Pokémon packs first, sometimes you have to go directly to the source, which often turns out to be Collector Crypt. It handles everything, from securing the real-life cards, grading and storing them in vaults, to issuing blockchain-verified NFTs that are bundled into packs.
This platform is almost entirely Pokémon-focused, with some additions of sports and other card game-based collections. Collector Crypt users often get exclusive drops before they reach secondary marketplaces, but trading activity here is lower, so listings don’t move as fast as on bigger platforms.
Pokémon NFT Pack Offerings
The pack offerings are based on the Gacha machine system that distributes limited-edition Legendary packs along with the cheaper Elite ones. Cards for Legendary packs usually come from the pool that consists of top-graded ones, usually PSA 9 or PSA 10.
Unique Pack Features
Additionally, Legendary packs may contain very expensive “chase cards,” such as 1st Edition Charizard or rare Trophy cards. They will sell like hot cakes on any secondary market.
Courtyard
Courtyard is an online collectible card trading platform that highlights authenticity and high-quality storage solutions, working with institutional-grade vaults to secure its collectibles.
Platform Overview
Courtyard is a tokenized collectible cards NFT platform that offers a smaller selection of sports cards, comics, and other graded collectibles as well. The platform features frequent drops, high-quality grading, and secure redemption options.
It’s great for collectors who value authenticity and proper storage. The project works with Brink’s and other institutional-grade vaults used for high-value real-world collectibles.
Pokémon NFT Pack Offerings
Courtyard offers a broad range of Pokémon NFT packs, from affordable Starter Packs to premium Legend Packs with the best odds of pulling superior Pokémon cards. They are distributed using the “vending machine” system that replicates the real-life experience.
Unique Pack Features
Courtyard’s packs often include curated card lineups rather than fully randomized bulk. Many drops focus on specific eras, themes, or chase cards.
RIP.FUN
RIP.FUN is a newer platform built specifically around the experience of digitally ripping Pokémon NFT packs. It’s still in beta.
Platform Overview
RIP.FUN is a niche NFT platform focused entirely on the pack‑ripping experience. Though it doesn’t match the market breadth or liquidity of larger marketplaces like Magic Eden, it appeals to collectors seeking fun.
Users can trade pulled NFTs or redeem them for physical cards, but the main draw is the playful, engaging pack-opening experience rather than active trading.
Pokémon NFT Pack Offerings
Currently, RIP.FUN offers fewer than a dozen Pokémon NFT packs, with only one exclusive drop, the Team Rocket Returns pack. In spite of the limited selection, the platform is expected to expand its offerings as the project grows.
Unique Pack Features
After opening a pack, collectors can unlock additional limited-edition packs for completing certain Pokémon sets. Additionally, the platform lets users earn XP points, which can be used for extra perks and bonuses.
Phygitals
Though Phygitals primarily focuses on sports collectibles, Pokémon fans can occasionally find interesting NFT packs and limited-edition drops on the platform.
Platform Overview
Phygitals works like other niche NFT marketplaces that tokenize and store physical cards, giving collectors the option to redeem or trade them. One unique feature is user revenue share: if you digitize and sell a Pokémon or other collectible card, you continue earning 1% of its future sales.
Pokémon NFT Pack Offerings
Phygitals distributes its Pokémon NFT packs using a Claw Machine system. The platform offers a wide variety of packs, ranging from common starter sets to expensive Mythic packs, which contain the rarest cards.
Unique Pack Features
Phygitals’ Mythic, Legendary, and Epic packs contain the most valuable chase cards. Users can rank their collections based on the rarity of their pulls as well, competing with other collectors on the platform.
What’s the Best Place to Get Your Hands on Pokémon NFT Packs?
For collectors looking to buy Pokémon NFT packs, Magic Eden would be the top choice for a few compelling reasons. It combines the thrill of opening a new pack and a massive secondary market with deep liquidity and the assurance that each card is authentic and redeemable, thanks to partnerships with trusted niche platforms. This makes it ideal for both trading and collecting rare, limited-edition Pokémon packs.
hmv is returning to Limerick next week with a new store in the Crescent Shopping Centre, open from 9.30am on Friday 16 May. This will be their second store now in Ireland after Henry St opened in Mid 2023
With over 18,000 different products on offer, the 5,478 sq. ft store is the perfect destination for fans of music and pop culture to discover new items.
Record enthusiasts and collectors will be able to browse 5,000 different vinyl albums, while the store will also stock 5,500 different CDs and a wide range of music technology. For fans of pop culture and entertainment, there will be 3,000 products across franchises such as Stranger Things, Pokémon, Star Wars, Marvel and DC, as well as 300 different T-shirt designs.
On opening day, the first 50 customers to make a purchase will receive a free pop culture swag bag full of quirky Kenji or Funko products. Customers can also take advantage of amazing in-store offers, including the 2 for €50 vinyl offer.
With a performance space in-store, the hmv shop in Limerick is expected to draw signings and performances from both established international artists and grassroots local bands. Local musicians and bands who want to get a gig experience can contact staff in-store for details on how to perform through hmv’s Live&Local programme. So far, the programme has seen over 1,600 gigs performed this year in stores across the UK and Ireland.
Phil Halliday, hmv Managing Director, UK and Ireland said:“hmv has a rich history in Ireland and we’re delighted to announce we’ll be returning to Limerick with a new store inside the Crescent Shopping Centre. There’ll be deals on music, TV, and film, as well as a new dedicated performance space for both established artists and local bands, with the aim of turning the store into the best music destination in town.”
Bronwen Dawson, Store Manager, said: “Nothing beats discovering new music and pop culture products in a store filled with expert, knowledgeable staff. We’re beyond excited to be back in Limerick and we can’t wait to fling open the doors and show customers round on opening day.”
The store’s address is Unit 1, Crescent Shopping Centre, Dooradoyle Road, Limerick, V94 4X28, and its opening hours are:
PowerA – an industry-leading developer of high-quality, licensed gaming peripherals – is proud to announce that the new Enhanced Wireless Controller and Protection Case for the Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite – Pikachu 025 are now available. Commemorate 25 years of one of gaming’s most beloved franchises by taking home a controller that harkens back to the series’ roots. You can catch both the stylised case and Enhanced Wireless Nintendo Switch controller right now in at Argos for £39.99. Find additional EU retailers here.
This officially licensed controller from PowerA elevates your play across Nintendo Switch games featuring motion controls, mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons and Bluetooth® 5.0 technology for wireless play. With up to 30 hours of gameplay from the internal rechargeable battery, the Enhanced Wireless Controller gives you the edge you need in competitive play as well as flexibility and comfort during long, relaxed gaming sessions.
To go alongside the Enhanced Wireless Controller, PowerA’s officially licensed Nintendo Switch protective case is the ideal accessory to keep your console and games safe. On the outside, a sturdy outer shell and durable zippers make sure any damage to your valuables will be avoided, while the moulded interior and felt lining keeps your screen from scratching.
Both of these products come with unique and playful designs, including an eye-catching black and yellow colour scheme with series favourite Pikachu prominently featured on both case and controller. Labelled “025” to commemorate Pikachu’s place in the Pokédex, these PowerA products are a must have for anyone with a place in their heart for classic Pokémon titles.
Just in case you live under a rock, Pokémon Go has been the trending topic the last few days, simply because it has surpassed the consumer base of allegedly “bigger” companies.
And more than that, simply because its Pokémon! Maybe our dear Jim is not a big fan of the series, but I personally was when I was younger.
Been one of the few games that uses Augmented Reality or (AR) to play and that alone is a huge progress. The team behind the GO part of it, is no other than Niantic, the team that brought to us INGRESS.
Thus far everything sound great about the game, but recently, something really disturbing has happened.
When you first open the app, as in every other app out there, you need to log in with credentials. Within the app there’s just two options, or accessing through a Pokémon account (which is impossible if you don’t have one already) or with Google’s.
When you use the Google account (which is what we all probably do on Android phones) the app generally show a pop up widget after letting you know which features will be accessing. But when you do this on iOS “nothing happens“.
The blogger Adam Reeve, found behavior rather weird and went to his Google page to see what he had given access to. The answer make all his alarms to ring off:
Pokemon Go has Full Access to your Google account
When you grant “full access” to an app, it can see and modify practically all information on your Google account. For you to have an idea, this is what the Google security page say:
Read all your email
Send email as you
Access all your Google drive documents (including deleting them)
Look at your search history and your Maps navigation history
Access any private photos you may store in Google Photos
This is something that shouldn’t happen as what an app would need to use in the case you forgot your password or something is, in ay case your name and email address.
Apparently this is not consistent across the APK, as has happened just to some iOS or Android users. But if you want to see if you’re one of them you can do it HERE
Apparently, Niantic has acknowledge the case and made a statement about the incident:
We recently discovered that the Pokémon Go account creation process on iOS erroneously requests full access permission for the user’s Google account. However, Pokémon Go only accesses basic Google profile information (specifically, your user ID and e-mail address) and no other Google account information is or has been accessed or collected. Once we became aware of this error, we began working on a client-side fix to request permission for only basic Google account information, in line with the data we actually access. Google has verified that no other information has been received or accessed by Pokémon Go or Niantic. Google will soon reduce Pokémon Go’s permission to only the basic profile data that Pokémon Go needs, and users do not need to take any actions themselves.
So, although it seems to be nothing to worry about, it would be better if you keep an eye on your Pokémon Go access ’till everything is settled down.
Also remember that, apart from this issue, there’s a ton of fake apps that carry a malware which would harm your device.
If you don’t live in a country where is fully available at the moment find a secure and known source to get the APK from.
