Ellen Smith
Verified
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Ellen Smith
Passive House Cottages
A historic cottage layout is getting a contemporary rethink in the woods of Magnetawan, Ontario. Toronto-based studio Williamson Williamson has designed DogTrot Magnetawan, a 1,500-square-foot prefabricated home that takes inspiration from the 19th-century dogtrot, with an open breezeway running through the centre beneath one continuous roof. The result is a seasonal retreat designed to stay comfortable while using less energy throughout the year.
Aventurine Dress Watches
Glashütte Original is giving its Senator collection a new look with two watches featuring aventurine glass dials. The Art Déco Blue model comes in platinum, while the Art Nouveau Green combines a green dial with a red-gold case. Both designs leave out traditional hour markers and a date display, allowing the textured dials to take centre stage.
Free-to-Keep Puzzle Games
We and our 78 IAB TCF partners store and access information on your device for the following purposes: store and/or access information on a device, advertising and content measurement, audience research, and services development, personalised advertising, and personalised content. Personal data may be processed to do the following: use precise geolocation data and identify devices based on information actively requested.
Halloween Character Doughnuts
Krispy Kreme is getting into the Halloween spirit with its Boo Crew Dozen, a limited-edition box featuring three doughnuts with seasonal decorations. The assortment arrives in shops on October 30 and is available for just two days, making it a timely option for Halloween parties, office treats or a last-minute dessert.
Holiday Toy Calendars
RelatedArticle More like this For kids who would rather find a new toy car than a chocolate each morning, Hot Wheels has a festive countdown of its own. Mattel’s Hot Wheels Advent Calendar includes 24 daily surprises, with 10 standard-sized die-cast cars among the finds. It also comes with clips that let children hang their favourite cars on the Christmas tree.
Gluten-Free Mini Doughnuts
RelatedArticle More like this Heavenly Hunks is expanding Dupe Loops mini doughnuts to Sprouts Farmers Market and Costco, giving families managing celiac disease and food allergies more places to buy a shelf-stable treat without gluten or dairy. The Minnesota company already sells its snacks in about 16,000 retail locations, and Dupe Loops also reached Target stores and Target.com in September.
Snickerdoodle Protein Powders
RelatedArticle More like this Earth Fed Muscle is bringing Ol' St. Ripped back on November 6, giving holiday-minded protein powder buyers a Snickerdoodle option for winter shakes. The returning Grass-Fed Whey Protein flavor moves the brand from its earlier fall dessert releases into a Christmas-themed tub with a muscular Santa Claus on the label.
Rural Delivery Vans
Rivian is updating its electric delivery van with a bigger battery and all-wheel drive, giving route drivers more range and traction in one package. The hardware upgrade is now reaching customers, with deliveries of the new variants starting in early October.
College Team Sneakers
RelatedArticle More like this The TCU Horned Frogs are getting their own take on Nike’s Air Foamposite Pro, featuring a New Orchid shell in the team’s signature purple. The upper is finished with a stencilled geometric pattern inspired by the school’s football uniforms, giving the design a direct connection to the team.
Festive Choux Wreaths
M&S is adding a new centrepiece to its festive dessert range with the Pistachio & Honey Wreath, a frozen treat made with choux pastry, honey, pistachios and raspberries. The wreath-shaped dessert is available now at selected M&S Foodhalls and through Ocado, giving shoppers another option for the Christmas table.
Linux Computer Glasses
Raven Resonance is bringing a computer you can wear like a pair of glasses to market with Raven Prism, now available for pre-order. Designed for developers, makers and workplace users, the prescription-style eyewear displays information directly in the wearer’s field of view, without needing to connect to a smartphone. It runs on RavenOS, the company’s Linux-based operating system, and responds to eye tracking and voice commands.
Halloween Candlelight Concerts
RelatedArticle More like this Fever is turning Vessel into a Halloween concert space with A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics, a one-night Candlelight performance featuring the Highline String Quartet.
Early-Access Gift Drops
RelatedArticle More like this Disney is giving TikTok users an early chance to shop its holiday collection through Disney Super Brand Day, running from November 4 to 10. The event brings together a range of gifts, festive clothing and home décor in a dedicated TikTok Shop storefront, with selected products available before they appear on Disney Store’s online shop and other retailers.
Titanium Tritium Keychains
Xedge is giving its glow keychain a brighter, multi-colour twist with the NoxTi Tri, a titanium model designed to hold three tritium tubes instead of one. The extra light sources illuminate three sides of the compact body, creating a mix of colours in a keychain that weighs just 15.8 grams.
Device Trigger Actions
iOS 27.2 adds a new automation trigger to Apple’s Shortcuts app, allowing users to run actions when their iPhone is opened or closed. Apple has also expanded the Use Model action, which can now retrieve current web information in five more languages, including French and Spanish.
Magnetic Nose Strips
Intake Breathing is taking its breathing tabs toward mass retail with a $62 million investment, aiming beyond athletes to health-focused users who wear them for sleep, workouts and everyday airflow. Its patented kit pairs two separate nose strips with a magnetic band that opens the nasal passages more fully.
Heat-Damage Hair Treatments
RelatedArticle More like this Frizz and heat damage often go hand in hand, particularly for anyone who regularly reaches for a blow-dryer or straighteners. OGX is addressing both with Ionic Frizz Repair, a new six-piece haircare range featuring its dual-action Ionic Ceramide Technology. The formula is designed to smooth flyaways while helping repair damage beneath the surface.
Wafer Protein Treats
RelatedArticle More like this Per4m is adding two new flavours to its Advanced Protein Blend, taking inspiration from familiar sweet treats. Chocolate Hazelnut Wafer and White Chocolate Coconut Wafer bring a dessert-style twist to the UK brand’s protein range, with both flavours available in powder and bar formats. A matching spread is also in the works.
Encrypted Ride Recordings
RelatedArticle More like this Uber is rolling out encrypted trip video recording to nearly 2 million driver partners in India, giving them a way to document rides if a safety concern or fare dispute arises. The feature is built into the Uber app, and riders can choose whether their trip is recorded. The footage is encrypted, meaning neither riders, drivers nor Uber can access the video directly.
Diwali Mango Cocktails
Diwali celebrations are getting a cocktail twist in Leeds, where Desi Daru is teaming up with Uyare by Tharavadu for a limited-edition drinks menu. Running from 2 to 15 November, the collaboration will be available at the restaurant and rooftop bar at Victoria Gate, with three cocktails featuring Desi Daru Alphonso Mango Vodka, made with Ratnagiri mangoes.
High-End Touchscreen Laptops
Apple's MacBook Pro now doubles as its first Mac with touch controls, giving laptop buyers a direct way to work on the screen instead of relying only on a keyboard and trackpad. The range starts at $1,999. It reaches $14,549 at the top end, turning one notebook family into a much wider pricing span.
Festive Cold Cups
The festive season is starting to show up in Starbucks orders, with peppermint flavours and the return of its iconic Red Cups. This year’s UK holiday menu features four peppermint drinks, including the classic Peppermint Mocha, alongside Peppermint Hot Chocolate, a Peppermint Frappuccino blended beverage and Peppermint White Chocolate Matcha. There’s also a new Holiday Cold Cup for anyone who prefers their seasonal drink over ice.
Family Gear Carry-Ons
Travelling with young children often means bringing along more than a suitcase. No Reception Club is looking to make that load easier to manage with the Rollaway, a 40-litre carry-on designed to transport a car seat alongside the usual family travel essentials. Rather than standing upright like a traditional suitcase, it rolls horizontally with an extended handle, creating a wider base for bulky items.
Dual-Zone Roofline Lights
RelatedArticle More like this Linkind’s Smart Permanent Outdoor Lights ColorBlend let homeowners switch between seasonal displays without taking lights down and rehanging them. The system is available now in a 200-foot kit with 120 light heads, each featuring two controllable zones. It also supports Matter for integration with compatible smart-home devices.
Hybrid Dive Watches
Casio is adding two models to its affordable dive-style watch range with the AMW-910, an analog-digital pair expected to arrive in December. Both feature a small day-and-date display at six o’clock, with one version fitted with a resin strap and the other with a stainless steel bracelet. The watches have appeared at Vietnamese retailer G-Shock Hai Phong.
Modular Refugee Districts
BIG is developing Refugee Cities as a decade-long plan for refugees that pairs legal permits with a self-sustaining modular urban layout financed by institutional investors rather than short-term aid. The project responds to a displacement outlook of 1.2 billion refugees by 2050 and starts with a single-family base unit built for longer stays, not emergency shelter.
Long-life smartphones
RelatedArticle More like this Huawei is expanding its mid-range phone line in China with the Enjoy 100 Pro Max, a version of the series built around longer battery life. It serves as a more endurance-focused alternative to the Enjoy 100 and Enjoy 100 Pro.
Jewel-Bezel Square Watches
RelatedArticle More like this Timex is expanding its Addison line with three bracelet watches that add crystal-set bezels and stainless-steel links to the compact square design. The trio moves beyond the recent leather-strap Addison releases, giving the line a dressier, jewelry-leaning finish without changing its basic shape.
Dessert-Inspired Protein Powders
Protein powder doesn’t have to taste like a plain vanilla shake. ProDough Protein Bakeshop is bringing its baking-inspired approach to supplements with Gourmet Whey Protein, a microfiltered whey isolate available in 20 dessert-style flavours. Each serving delivers 25g of protein, whether mixed into a shake or used to add a protein boost to homemade treats.
Mid-Sized Autonomous Buses
A new electric bus that can drive itself is heading to Australia and New Zealand, where transport authorities and bus operators will get the chance to see how the technology works in real-world conditions. Named Rita, the vehicle was developed by Japanese technology company TIER IV and is being brought to the region by the National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO).
Roll-Up Food Warmers
We and our 78 IAB TCF partners store and access information on your device for the following purposes: store and/or access information on a device, advertising and content measurement, audience research, and services development, personalised advertising, and personalised content. Personal data may be processed to do the following: use precise geolocation data and identify devices based on information actively requested.
Superfan Countdown Calendars
For some shoppers, the weekly Aldi run is practically a hobby. Now, fans can bring a little of that enthusiasm home with the Super Fan Advent Calendar, a $29.99 countdown packed with Aldi-themed surprises rather than the usual chocolates. Think of it as a festive treat for the person who never misses a trip down the Aldi Finds aisle.
Limited-Edition Gaming Laptops
Lenovo is bringing Phantom Blade Zero to its Legion gaming laptop range with four special editions featuring artwork from the upcoming action game. The models use existing Legion notebooks as their base, adding the game's protagonist to the lid for a design that carries the crossover beyond the screen.
Grid Basketball Sneakers
RelatedArticle More like this Nike is adding a fresh silhouette to its Greater Than basketball range with the GT Uptempo, a performance shoe featuring a grid-patterned upper and Air Zoom cushioning. The release brings the GT family back to three models in 2027, giving players beyond Nike’s signature athletes another option on court.
Oversized Steel Tables
A familiar hardware-store fastener gets a new job in PREGO, a sculptural furniture collection by architect Ingrid Sani Lang for Rótulo em Branco. The range reimagines the shape of a nail as side, coffee and bar tables, bringing an industrial silhouette into the home. Related Ideas CATEGORYLifestyle Metal Sheet Tables CATEGORYArt & Design Steel Outdoor Series CATEGORYArt & Design Aluminum Table Designs The tables feature removable, interchangeable heads that change how each piece can be used.
Permanent Classic Pizzas
Starting on October 28, Blaze Pizza is putting five requested signature pizzas back on its permanent menu, giving guests set combinations they can order without building a pie from scratch while still allowing topping swaps. The return answers repeat customer requests with a standing menu change rather than a seasonal run.
Fast Food Golf Accessories
RelatedArticle More like this Taco Bell is taking its signature style from the drive-through to the golf course with a limited-edition collaboration with Swag Golf. The collection gives golfers a chance to add a little fast-food flair to their game, with accessories including headcovers and engraved putters featuring graphics inspired by the Crunchwrap Supreme.
Counterless Boarding Gates
We and our 78 IAB TCF partners store and access information on your device for the following purposes: store and/or access information on a device, advertising and content measurement, audience research, and services development, personalised advertising, and personalised content. Personal data may be processed to do the following: use precise geolocation data and identify devices based on information actively requested.
Luxury Performance Crossover Cars
BMW is giving its X3 M50 performance crossover a power boost for 2027, adding 44 hp to its turbocharged straight-six for a total of 437 hp. A revised exhaust brings a deeper sound to match, giving the luxury SUV a little more attitude on the road.
Retro Tower Speakers
We and our 78 IAB TCF partners store and access information on your device for the following purposes: store and/or access information on a device, advertising and content measurement, audience research, and services development, personalised advertising, and personalised content. Personal data may be processed to do the following: use precise geolocation data and identify devices based on information actively requested.
Business Laptop Upgrades
HP is bringing its AMD-powered EliteBook 6 business laptop to the US, updating the previous generation with newer Gorgon Point processors.
Jet-Ready Greenland Routes
Air Greenland is introducing jet service from Ilulissat using a leased Airbus A320neo, giving the Greenlandic town a direct link to the mainland as its new runway opens. Tickets for the service are already on sale, with the jet replacing the airline’s usual turboprop aircraft on the route.
AI Packaging Quotes
Calyx built packOS for consumer packaged goods brands to cut packaging quoting from days of back-and-forth to about 60 seconds. Its Quick Quote feature reads uploaded label artwork, turns it into specifications and renderings, and returns production-backed pricing for supported pressure-sensitive labels.
Folding Game Consoles
LCLDIY's PlayStation 2 DUO turns the home console into a DIY portable by combining its controls with a screen that bends at the center, so PS2 fans can close it between sessions. The layout stays familiar, with the PlayStation face buttons and twin sticks set into a purple shell around the display.
Low-Foam Dog Cleansers
RelatedArticle More like this Clare Balding is bringing Unconditional Love to Pets at Home with a dog-grooming range that cleans coats while neutralizing odor instead of covering it with heavier scent. The line gives pet owners washes and sprays made for canine skin, coat care, and dogs' sensitivity to fragrance.
Paid Training Restaurants
Roots is a restaurant in Modena, Italy, with a mission that extends beyond the dining room. Founded in 2022 by chef Jessica Rosval and Caroline Caporossi, it combines a fixed-price dinner menu with a paid, four-month training programme for migrant women looking to work in professional kitchens. Five trainees complete each quarterly intake before moving into restaurant jobs across the city.
Refrigerated Dip Pots
RelatedArticle More like this Dr. Will's is bringing refrigerated dips to Tesco with 30g pots that give shoppers a small add-on for breaded chicken, fries, and other shareable foods. It is the brand's first move into the chilled dips category, with Sriracha Mayo and Avocado Oil Mayo recast from its standard range into a single-serve format.
80-Hour Automatic Watches
KUOE is updating its Royal Smith with Citizen Miyota's Calibre 9085, a mechanical movement that runs for about 80 hours before stopping. Against Miyota's Calibre 9015, rated at around 42 hours, the longer reserve lets owners leave the watch off for a few days without resetting it right away.
Worker-Directed Florida Citrus
We and our 78 IAB TCF partners store and access information on your device for the following purposes: store and/or access information on a device, advertising and content measurement, audience research, and services development, personalised advertising, and personalised content. Personal data may be processed to do the following: use precise geolocation data and identify devices based on information actively requested.
Docking Ultrawide Monitors
Lenovo is refreshing its ultrawide lineup with the ThinkVision T34WD-4v, a monitor that replaces the ThinkVision T34WD-40. Its standout addition is USB-C charging up to 100 W, which lets one cable power a connected laptop while carrying video. It keeps the line in the 34-inch ultrawide format.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Ellen
Contact Ellen, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack