Smart gardening pot concept makes growing plants indoors less stressful

There has been a new kind of hobby that gripped the world in the past few years, especially when people were forced to stay home for a few months. “Home gardening” was no longer limited to having a small plot of soil outdoors, especially if you can just grow them in pots indoors. That said, it’s a process that still requires a bit of work and effort, especially if you want to keep your plants alive long enough to enjoy the fruits (or leaves) of your labors. Unsurprisingly, a rather niche market of indoor planter appliances has popped up, some including pretty smart functions to boot. This concept tries to offer the same conveniences in a more aesthetic presentation, providing a painless experience of growing plants in an automated environment that looks great as a piece of home decoration as well.

Designer: Saiyami Jhaveri

Just like with plants grown outdoors, indoor plants need regular maintenance from watering, sunlight, and even protection from pests. You can do all of those manually, of course, and some people do enjoy the satisfying feeling of getting down and dirty with such tasks. Others, however, find the process too time-consuming and burdensome, especially if all they want is regular access to fresh herbs or beautiful green plants to liven up a space.

Ecobloom is a concept device that tries to take the drudgery out of this painstaking and laborious process. Almost all parts of that process are automated; all you really need to do is plant the greens and make sure the water tank at the top is filled. You don’t have to do guesswork on when it’s the right time to water the plants thanks to soil moisture sensors that determine the perfect moment for you. Drippers also make sure the plants don’t suddenly get drowned by dispensing the right amount of water as needed. And, of course, there are artificial “grow lights” that save you the trouble of having to put the pot out under the sun.

The smart gardening pot has an interesting function that you won’t always see in actual appliances. It is noted to have a built-in insect repellent to keep those pests away and protect your plants. The concept doesn’t exactly detail how this function works, but one can presume it will be using safe and scientifically tested methods that won’t harm humans and pets in the process.

What makes Ecobloom really interesting is the form it comes in. It uses three concentric circles at different heights, with the topmost acting as the water tank. This gives the appliance a more pleasing appearance compared to just boxes or compartments. Ecobloom can thus be also used to decorate a space, giving as much enjoyment to the planting process as simply watching the plants grow.

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Samsung’s Rollable Phones Will Be Able To Measure Air Quality, Thanks To A New Patent

Representational Image

Your phone is an absolute jungle of sensors – it can measure temperature changes, pressure changes, touch input, voice input, environment brightness, gyroscopic tilt, movement, among quite a few other things… and now Samsung wants it to measure the air quality around you too. It might seem odd at first (I felt so too), but this feature ties in with the broader approach at making your phone or any other wearable a health-focused device. If your watch can tell you that you’re in a high-noise environment and you should consider protecting your hearing, why not have a phone tell you if the air you’re breathing is polluted or contaminated? A patent uncovered by Twitter user @xleaks7 and tech blog Pigtou highlights the integration of an air quality sensor into Samsung’s upcoming Rollable Smartphones. This effectively helps your phone constantly measure the air quality on a hyper-local level, letting you know if you need to ventilate your kitchen or living room, or if the area you’re in has bad air, prompting you to leave or put on a mask.

Designer: Samsung

Representational Image

Imagine a phone that unfurls to reveal a sensor, discreetly tucked away when not in use. This is the essence of Samsung’s patent. The phone’s rollable display transforms into a gateway for external air, allowing the sensor to take accurate readings without compromising the phone’s sleek design. This eliminates the need for bulky external components, a common drawback of conventional air quality monitors.

But what makes air quality monitoring so important? Air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5), poses a significant health risk. By integrating sensors into everyday devices, Samsung offers a solution for convenient, on-the-go air quality monitoring. This empowers users to make informed decisions about their health and well-being, especially when spending time outdoors or in unfamiliar environments.

Here are a few features highlighted in the patent:

  • Adjustable Housing Concept: Tailors the display size and regulates airflow for precise sensor functionality.
  • Flexible Display Technology: Adapts seamlessly to varying screen dimensions, maintaining device portability.
  • Innovative Airflow System: Channels external air directly to the air quality sensor, enhancing measurement accuracy and speed.
  • Intelligent Opening and Closing Mechanism: Seamlessly integrated with the housing, optimizing sensor performance by managing air intake.
  • Improved Sensor Response Time: Facilitates swift sensor reaction to air quality fluctuations, ensuring timely feedback to users.
  • Built-in Sensor Protection: Shields the sensor from internal contaminants, guaranteeing consistent air quality assessments.
  • Streamlined Design: Maximizes space utilization, keeping the device sleek without compromising functionality.

The implications extend beyond personal health. This technology has the potential to foster a more environmentally conscious society. By raising awareness of air quality fluctuations, users can be prompted to take action, such as using public transport on high-pollution days. This collective effort can contribute to cleaner air and a greener future.

Patent via USPTO

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This “Roomba For Your Bed” Cleans and Disinfects your Mattress, preventing Mites, Bacteria, and Bedbugs

I don’t publicly endorse snacking in bed, but having a robot vacuum clean up those crumbs before you sleep is an absolute game-changer…

We spend so much time cleaning our floors and tables with robots and handheld vacuums, it’s funny that we don’t give our beds and sofas the same treatment. Dust gathers on your floor, sure, but practically, it would collect on your mattress too, right? Besides, brushing away those Doritos crumbs off your bed isn’t really the most effective way of cleaning… so here’s my question. We clean our floors with some of the most cutting-edge gadgets on the market. What about our beds and sofas – places we actually spend hours laying/resting on?

Especially for people with allergies, dust mites and other particles can trigger larger problems like asthma, skin reactions, or rhinitis. So, it becomes a prerogative to keep your bed or even your fabric sofa clean and sanitized at all times. And sure, you could just bust out your vacuum cleaner every time… but let’s face it, using a robot cleaner is so much more effective and easy. Besides, your vacuum cleaner won’t sanitize those crevasses or corners, and gaps in the fabric. The X1 Robot Bed Vacuum, on the other hand, will…

Designer: Creatulize

Click Here to Buy Now: $149 $299 ($150 off) Hurry! Only 16 left of 230.

Much like a robot floor cleaner, the X1 smartly plans its path, ensuring every corner of your bed gets vacuumed and sanitized. All it takes is the push of a button.

According to research, an average human sheds approximately 28 grams of skin every week. Combine this with the body head released when deep in slumber, and the dust mites have the ideal conditions to thrive and grow their population to around 2 million in a single mattress. Isn’t that fact startling and scary at the same time? As a fun experiment, just go to your sofa in the afternoon sun and whack it with your hands. As expected, you’ll probably see a dust cloud emerge from them. Sure, you probably use Roombas and disinfectants to take care of the floor you walk on, but nobody gives much of a damn about the bedsheet and pillow covers you sleep on, or the sofa they sit on beyond just the occasional weekly wash. The X1 tackles those microparticles on a much deeper level, ensuring that none of the fabric surfaces you rest on become breeding grounds for bacteria, or collection zones for dust.

This advanced robot bed vacuum cleaner loaded with intelligent self-navigation technology takes up the task of cleaning without much hassle. All you’ve got to do is sit back and binge-watch as X1 banishes dust mites and allergens with the touch of a button It vibrates and vacuums simultaneously, dislodging particles that then get sucked into the cylindrical dust chamber located on top of the X1, along with a UVC lamp that sanitizes your surfaces, killing bacteria, bedbugs, and mites that may cause rashes/infections. The appliance can also be used to clean rugs/mats, couches, pillows, baby play mats, or any fabric surfaces that could trap dust/dirt/particulate matter.

What sets apart X1 from other handheld vacuum cleaners is the in-built technology. It comes with 9 proximity sensors and a smart obstacle avoidance algorithm that identifies objects measuring 5cm or more and also detects edges of the bed to avoid falling off while cleaning. The intelligent Path Planning system navigates the designated bed to create a map from precise cleaning in blind spots without scouting the same section more than once. The cleaner comes with three modes – soft, powerful, and precision for daily, weekly, or damp weather cleaning needs respectively. To get more control over uneven surfaces like pillows or bed contours you can use it in the manual mode too.

The compact device is completely hands-free as it can be controlled with voice commands. Another set of features making it a winning proposition is the triple-headed cleaning power of vibration (15,000 oscillations/minute for lifting dust particles), vacuum (15Air Watt suction power) and UV-C sanitization courtesy of the 270nm LED UV-C light that obliterates bacteria and can even kill bedbugs with a stunning 95% efficacy rate. As a failsafe, to prevent any chances of unintended human exposure to UV-C light, the robot vacuum cleaner comes with an advanced auto-sensor that turns off the X1 as soon as it is picked off the cleaning surface.

The buck doesn’t stop there, as the vacuum cleaner boasts an impressive 1-hour battery life on a single charge. Makers are also mindful of secondary pollution woes, hence they’ve fitted the device with a HEPA filtration system that separates dust and hair. The dust mites are separated from the larger particles for easy cleaning. To that end, it has an easy-twist open mechanism with a magnetic design. With these countless features and modern lifestyle-focused design, the XI robot vacuum cleaner is a winning household gadget that is worth every penny spent!

The dust chamber on top lets you see how effective the X1 is at cleaning your bed and sofa. You can then pop it out and empty the dust after a cleaning cycle.

The X1 Robot Bed Vacuum starts at an exceedingly affordable $149 and comes with a  Type-C charging cable, a cleaning brush, a user manual, and global shipping. Additional HEPA filters and brush rollers can be bought as an add-on package for just $15.

Click Here to Buy Now: $149 $299 ($150 off) Hurry! Only 16 left of 230.

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This LEGO Vintage Radio lets you actually play music through your smartphone…

With 25 submissions to the LEGO Ideas forum (5 of which crossed the 10,000 vote mark), LEGO builder Dimexart is somewhat of a veteran when it comes to putting plastic bricks together. The brick aficionado’s latest creation combines LEGOs with the real-world in the form of a vintage radio that actually plays music. Made from over a thousand LEGO bricks, this vintage radio has a secret flap on the back that lets you slide your smartphone in. Switch on Spotify or YouTube, select your favorite track, and hit play as you pop your phone into the LEGO Vintage Radio and it recreates the feeling of having an antique radio playing your favorite tracks! The best part, Dimexart’s build comes with functional knobs and buttons that you can twist and press, moving sliders inside the gizmo just like you would with an authentic AM/FM radio.

Designer: Dimexart

Strangely enough, Dimexart made a radio back in 2021 out of LEGO bricks, and it did cross the 10,000 vote mark too, but was rejected by LEGO’s internal team. Unfazed by this, Dimexart went back to the drawing board and decided to tweak the radio to make it even better. The new MOC (My Own Creation, as it’s called in LEGO parlance) now features a flap on the back that let’s you slide any smartphone in, using the phone’s speakers and the acoustic chamber of the empty LEGO radio to create that warm, slightly twangy audio associated with radios of the past.

In Dimexart’s demo, he even uses the phone screen to mimic the warm backlight seen in most radio control panels. Given that they were sometimes used at night too, radios came with lights in their gauges so you could see which station you were on. Dimexart’s build uses light from your smartphone’s screen to create a similar experience.

The dials on the left and right are both functional and cause sliders inside to move left or right to indicate the station/frequency or the volume. There are dials/knobs and buttons on the bottom too, which are functional in that they can be interacted with – but that’s about all they do. It’s a fun interaction, however, and recreates the real tactile joy of the radio, which firmly belonged in a much more hands-on era long before touchscreens dominated our lives. The radio comes with a wood-inspired aesthetic, a rather realistic set of grills, and that gorgeous control panel on the bottom that I’m sure you won’t be able to get enough of.

Dimexart’s entry currently has 3,228 supporters as of writing this article. If you want to vote for the entry (and hopefully see it turn into a retail box set), vote for it on the LEGO Ideas website here.

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Bose Sound Spin portable speaker is disguised as a miniature front-loading washing machine

Portable speakers come in all types, sizes and themes but never before have I laid my eyes on one that looks like a front-loading washing machine. Only possible in the concept design world realm, this Bose branded portable speaker is a true conversation starter in any geeky den.

The intriguing design of this compact sound blaster tickles my fancy for its ingenuity in the placement of the different elements. Most definitely, you’ll start to see all those front-loading washing machines as a huge speaker once you lay your eyes on this concept. However, in reality all the button placements and speaker components are designed in a way that they seem like the perfect amalgam of portable audio equipment and a miniature washer for your undergarments.

Designer: Hari 3D

Although there is no detailed information about this concept’s development stage, there’s a picture at the end suggesting a prototype or a display model is indeed crafted by the designer. Dressed in a cool titanium grey finish, the portable speaker is a treat to watch if you are an audiophile who appreciates modern product design. The front of this cool gadget has all the audio telemetry to show the player controls on the touchscreen display along with the volume rocker knob, power button and play/pause buttons. On the left bottom side there’s the Bass actualizer knob.

To the front lies the subwoofer and on each side are the stereo speakers to beam quality sound. Wireless connectivity should be a given on this one, since no one in 2024 would buy a portable speaker without that option. Frankly speaking, this portable speaker would rock your desk setup as well. Folks over at Bose would also be keenly viewing this design language if they want to add something on these lines to their existing line-up.

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Smart pill dispenser concept safeguards your medicine from kids

Pill boxes and dispensers are becoming more common inside households, especially those with members that require daily medication for their health. The simplest designs are just containers with compartments for different days, but there are also more sophisticated machines that try to automate that routine so that you won’t forget to take your pills. Unfortunately, neither of these solutions takes into account unauthorized or accidental access to those medicines, especially by children for whom those drugs could very well be fatal. This smart pill dispenser concept tries to bring all those concerns together, offering not only a convenient tool but also a safe one for users as well as the people around them.

Designer: Anthony Chupp

The tedious work of taking medication regularly actually starts at the moment you allocate them for each day. Pill boxes and dispensers make it easier to dispense those pills and capsules, but they don’t exactly make it easy to fill them up in the first place. You might drop a pill or two on the floor in the process or, worse, drop them in the wrong compartment, forcing you to lose time trying to double-check and correct that mistake. We’re still a few steps away from a completely automated process that segregates and distributes those pills without human intervention, so any aid toward this part of the process will be significant, even if it still involves manually dropping in pills.

That’s the kind of help that the Cadence concept design offers, using a pharmacy-grade pill sorting plate that makes it easier to put pills where they belong. The specially-designed tray only has an opening for a single day so you don’t accidentally drop medicine inside compartments that have already been filled up. You can also just pour your pills on the tray and then use the built-in spatula to move the exact kind and number toward the opening.

The smart pill dispenser has 30 slots arranged like spokes around a wheel. When it’s time to dispense the day’s dosage, it releases the pills down a dropper shaped to guide the pieces into a cup or glass for collection. And then it turns the wheel so that tomorrow’s pills will be ready for the next round. The button to dispense the pills for the day is located at the top, out of the reach of kids, while locks prevent those same children from accidentally getting into the dispenser itself and scattering its contents.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a smart pill dispenser if it didn’t have any hi-tech features. When connected to a mobile device, Cadence will be able to keep track of your intake, calculating how many doses you have left or how many you’ve missed in that month. The dispenser itself has a small digital clock in the corner to take note of the time, and an LED light strip around the box that gently catches your attention when it comes time to take your medicine. Cadence isn’t exactly a sophisticated smart device, but it’s this balance of digital and analog methods that actually makes the design concept even more effective.

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L’Oreal’s high-tech hair dryer will dry hair faster and use less electricity

How many people does it take to turn on an air dryer? It may sound like the beginning of a joke but actually this is a real question and the answer is around a hundred people make up the team that has created one of the most high-tech hair dryers. But there’s also a surprising twist with this team as it’s actually made of engineers and scientists that used to create drones. Your hair dryer will not fly in the sky but you’re getting something pretty high-tech.

Designer: Zuvi

The Airlight Pro was unveiled last month at the Consumer Electronic Show and is considered a “next-generation hair drying tool” that can be for professional hairdressers, stylists, and ordinary consumers at home. This was developed by L’Oréal in partnership with hardware startup Zuvi. The latter was created by drone engineers and scientists, most of whom came from technology company DJI, so you know that this is definitely a device that comes with good tech. It uses infrared-light technology and wind to have the hair dry faster and also use 31% less energy consumption.

The hair dryer uses a special 17-blade, high=speed motor, and patented infrared technology as well as tungsten-halogen bulbs so that you don’t use excessive heat when drying your hair. This also means that your hair is properly (or naturally) moisturized since the water is dried on the hair surface and the heat will not excessively dry it. Design-wise, it looks like a typical, high-tech hair dryer so there’s nothing really extra special there. But the fact that its technology can dry your hair quicker and still keep it shiny and smooth is the selling point.

The AirLight Pro has a small display in the handheld grip and can also be connected to an app so you can customize the settings depending on your hair type, length, and style. There isn’t a price tag announced yet although they may be looking at something below $400.

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Top 10 Cooking Supplies To Bring True Japanese Aesthetics, Functionality & Style To Your Kitchen

Japanese design is just so quintessentially functional, thoughtful, and pretty-looking too! I have a soft spot for Japanese product designs as they always manage to be – simple, sophisticated, and high-value. I love incorporating Japanese products in my home space, they have such a soothing effect and can add an elegant touch to any home. I also enjoy using Japanese kitchen appliances and tools. Not only are they adorable to look at and gentle to use, but they’re also high on functionality and very rarely give you any trouble. They’re foolproof designs that you can depend on to tackle your cooking prep and other kitchen tasks, and we’ve curated some top-notch Japanese kitchen tools for you!

1. Mitsubishi Bread Oven

Mitsubishi’s Bread Oven is created to serve you the perfect toast! Looking like an adorable waffle maker, the toaster features a veneer brown look that seems to be straight out of the ’80s. It has a sealed thermal-insulated structure and can toast your bread without releasing any moisture, preparing a soft and fluffy toast for you!

Why is it noteworthy?

The Bread Oven is equipped with two plates that can go up to temperatures as high as even 500 degrees Fahrenheit. These nifty plates seal the piece of bread, transferring heat to it, and creating a slice of toast that is anything but dry.

What we like

  • It has four cooking settings – Toast, Frozen Toast, Topping, and French Toast
  • Sleek good looks, making it a great fit for your dining table

What we dislike

  • You can only toast one slice of bread at a time, which can be inconvenient
  • It takes longer to toast bread with low sugar content

2. Slim Fold Dish Rack

Named the Slim Fold Dish Rack, this innovative dish rack has a portable design, allowing you to carry it anywhere with you. It features a patent-pending spring mechanism, that lets you adjust and shrink the rack from 14″ to 1.2″ in no time. The rack can be easily deployed, making it quick to set up and use.

Click Here to Buy Now: $75.00

Why is it noteworthy?

The Slim Fold Dish Rack has a minimalist yet durable design, perfectly capturing the highlights of Japanese design. It ensures adequate ventilation and offers plenty of space for cookware, utensils, and plates of any shape and size. Since it has a convenient portable form, it is great for camping outdoors too.

What we like

  • Collapsible and flexible form that ensures clean and dry utensils in the nick of time
  • Portable design that is easy to clean and dishwasher friendly

What we dislike

  • Since the rack has slim wires, it’s not the best option to hold heavy utensils like pots and plans

3. Black Kitchen Knives

These Black Kitchen Knives are fashionable and sophisticated featuring a sleek black blade that makes them stand out from other typical knives. The black sheen offers the knives a refined look, adding a touch of Japanese class to your kitchen and cooking process. They’re the upgrade you need from your mundane knives.

Click Here to Buy Now: $99

Why is it noteworthy?

The Black Kitchen Knives feature a clean and sleek form, with only a subtle “i” logo, ensuring there are no loud distractions on its body. The knives remind you of a ninja in the shadows, which goes straight for the kill, cutting your ingredients with stealth, grace, and deadly precision.

What we like

  • The knives are crafted from molybdenum vanadium steel, making them quite durable and sharp
  • They’ve been coated with titanium to provide increased wear resistance

What we dislike

  • The knives are only available in black, with one uniform design, so there aren’t a lot of colors to choose from to match our kitchen

4. Rassen Chopsticks

Designed by Nendo for Hashikura Matsukan, the Rassen (spiral chopsticks), perfectly marry fun and functionality, to create a product that is quintessentially Japanese. The pair of chopsticks can be attached together to form one convenient single unit, and they can be separated whenever you need to use them.

Why is it noteworthy?

Bringing the chopsticks together and then separating them feels like you’re playing with a jigsaw puzzle. Using the chopsticks becomes a fun and interactive experience, bringing joy to your daily meal. And since you can easily combine the pair, you never have to live in fear of losing one!

What we like

  • The perfect culmination of fun and functionality
  • Handmade by artisans

What we dislike

  • May not be preferred by those who like traditional chopsticks, and could take a while for them to get used to the product’s unique form

5. Iron Frying Plate

If I had to pick one kitchen product that truly captures the sensible yet interesting Japanese design philosophy – I would pick the Iron Frying Plate. This unique kitchen design doubles as a serving plate and a frying pan, all thanks to its innovative removable handle, which allows the product to change forms.

Click Here to Buy Now: $69

Why is it noteworthy?

The Iron Frying Plate marries both a frying pan and a serving plate to create a functional and unique kitchen tool. Made using durable materials, the plate cooks and serves, while facilitating direct-from-the-pan serving. It introduces an ingenious and novel new way of cooking and serving.

What we like

  • The plate’s wooden handle can be attached and detached, allowing it to double up as a frying pan and serving platter

What we dislike

  • It’s made from iron, making it quite a heavy pan in comparison to traditional frying pans. Hence it could be difficult to store and handle in small kitchens

6. Magemono Tumbler and Bread Tray

The Magemono Tumbler and Bread Tray are beautiful Japanese-style serving dishes. The tumbler features a Hasamiyaki porcelain inner vessel and a Magemono Japanese cedar wood sleeve on the outside. The bread tray is a thin tray crafted from a fir tree and is available in two sizes.

Why is it noteworthy?

The bread tray is perfect for serving those breakfast sandwiches, while the tumbler can hold a brewed cup of coffee. Both the dishes represent the serene and untouched perfection of Japanese craftsmanship, while also providing sustenance to the craftsmen and their families, and also allowing this art to be passed down to younger generations.

What we like

  • Preserves and boasts Japanese craftsmanship
  • The bread tray can even toast the bread for longer according to the designer

What we dislike

  • Available in a single colorway only

7. Precision Chef Kitchen Scissors

Named the Precision Chef Kitchen Scissors, sleek black kitchen shears feature a curved serrated blade that slices through your food in a quick and easy manner. The precise scissors are excellent for cutting up some steak on the dining table, allowing you to showcase your meat-cutting skills.

Click Here to Buy Now: $99

Why is it noteworthy?

The Precision Chef Kitchen Scissors have an aura and image of power and style, owing to their jet-black shade. The position they’ll occupy in your kitchen will be impressive and intimidating, while skillfully chopping through veggies, pizza, steak, and more.

What we like

  • The scissors are equipped with a curved serrated blade that cuts meat safely, effortlessly, and swiftly
  • Makes cutting an easy and hassle-free step of the food prep process

What we dislike

  • The scissors are only available in black, so there aren’t many color options to choose from and match with our kitchens

8. Playful Palm Grater

The Playful Palm Grater is what you need to add some Japanese functionality and whimsical fun to your kitchen or dining table. The little grater can fit perfectly into the palm of your hand, marrying fun and functionality to create a product that is lightweight, full of value, and transforms a simple cooking process into an interesting experience.
Click Here to Buy Now: $25

Why is it noteworthy?

The Playful Palm Grater is a charming and functional product that resembles a curled piece of paper. It is made from a single aluminum alloy plate and is available in different color options. You have a wide range of colors to pick from, allowing you to add a pop of color and sparkle to your boring old kitchen and dinner table.

What we like

  • Has a unique and ergonomic form that offers a strong and sturdy grip
  • Transforms the simple of act grating into a fun and playful experience, while also making it easier

What we dislike

  • The Playful Palm Grater has a tiny size, which isn’t suitable for grating large amounts of food or larger food items

9. PARTAYAKI

The PARTAYAKI is an innovative tabletop grill designed to bring the flavors and experience of a Japanese Steakhouse to your kitchen table. It lets you be the chef, and cook up your own steaks for your friends and family. You don’t need to step out of your home to experience a Japanese Steakhouse.

Why is it noteworthy?

The PARTAYAKI is modeled after the same professional grills that you see in Japanese Steakhouses. It lets you prepare delicious meals and create a Japanese Steakhouse-like experience for your family and friends in the comfort of your own home and kitchen.

What we like

  • Equipped with dipping sauce trays and one-quart hot pots to prepare traditional Chinese-style Hot Pots
  • Features molded chopstick holders

What we dislike

  • It is quite a space-consuming design, so you’ll need sufficient space in your kitchen
  • It does seem a bit difficult to clean and maintain

10. Thanko Electric Bento Rice Cooker

Meet the Thanko Electric Bento rice cooker – a portable cooker that lets you prepare a bowl of warm rice wherever you are. This little cooker is designed to make rice an omnipresent food item no matter where you go. It is excellent for cooking single-serve rice in a short period of time. The LED light glows once the rice is ready!

Why is it noteworthy?

The Thanko Electric Bento rice cooker is great for those who travel or want fresh rice at the office instead of takeout or repacked meals. The rice cooker can prepare 6 ounces of rice in one go. It even comes with a measuring cup for convenience!

What we like

  • Depending on the ounces of rice, it will be cooked between 14-20 minutes
  • Portable, easy-to-carry design
  • Lets you eat rice straight from the container

What we dislike

  • There doesn’t seem to be variety in sizes and colors

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Tumbler-shaped portable projector concept promises entertainment freedom

Projectors are becoming a popular alternative to extra large screens like TVs, mostly at home but sometimes even outdoors. Product design trends have started to move away from bulky boxes to more compact forms, but most of them are still restricted by a few design considerations. Even projectors that are supposedly designed for portability often come with clunky and sometimes unattractive stands, or worse, require setting up on tripods just to get the perfect angle. This concept design tries to solve that problem in a rather creative way, offering a highly compact and portable projector that can be propped up and angled conveniently, all without using a tripod or even a stand.

Designer: Hana Belassi

Thanks to progress in technology and manufacturing, it’s now possible to cram much of the electronics that powered large, hulking projectors into something the size of a small box or even a cylinder. But despite the smaller designs, or probably because of their more cramped designs, these portable projectors often rely on an external mechanism like a tripod or stand to prop them up at the desired angle. Not only does this ruin the aesthetics of the otherwise beautiful product, it also makes it cumbersome to bring the projector along wherever you go.

The Slim.VU concept tries to offer the ultimate on-the-go entertainment experience by encapsulating all the needed parts and design in a single, compact, and portable package. A projector with a built-in battery is not exactly new, but one that comes with 4G connectivity is still unheard of. That enables the projector to function not only without an external power source but even without a Wi-Fi connection, allowing it to access streaming sources without having to use up your phone’s cellular data.

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The more interesting aspect of the projector’s design, however, is the built-in stand that looks nothing like a stand. The removable “cap” of this tumbler-like projector functions as this stand, holding the projector in its place magnetically. The curved shape of this stand lets you rotate the cylindrical projector and angle it properly. This way, you don’t need any other accessory to enjoy a video anytime you want, anywhere you go.

The Slim.VU projector concept contains everything you need, freeing you from concerns about power, connectivity, and stability. Of course, actually implementing such a projector is a different matter entirely, and it might need to make a few compromises in exchange for its compact form. Audio and video quality might actually take a hit just to cram this much technology inside a canister shape, making the portable projector less ideal for outdoor use, or even indoor when there’s too much ambient light.

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Portable Air Conditioner Lets You Enjoy The Outdoors Even During Harsh Summers

Living in a city like Dubai, where the scorching summer heat can be relentless, I can totally understand the value of a reliable air conditioner. Imagine taking that comfort outdoors with a portable air conditioner – a dream come true for residents like myself. The Yuuye Portable Air Conditioner is designed to transform outdoor spaces into cool, refreshing havens during the sweltering summer months.

Designers: HAORAN and Yifeeling Design

The Yuuye Portable Air Conditioner features a cutting-edge design that combines a refrigeration module with an exhaust module. This ingenious combination allows the device to efficiently suck in the surrounding heat and release cool, refreshing air, providing relief and comfort even in the midst of scorching temperatures.

The inclusion of an LCD ensures easy control and monitoring of the cooling settings. The super-large air outlet guarantees a widespread and consistent flow of cool air, ensuring that every corner of your outdoor space is covered.

Recognizing the need for convenience, this portable Air Conditioner is designed for one-handed handling, making it easy to move and position. The quick disassembly feature further enhances portability, allowing users to effortlessly switch between different outdoor locations.

The challenges faced while using traditional outdoor air conditioning units were identified and addressed while designing the modular design of the Yuuye Portable Air Conditioner such as –

Effortless Scene Switching

Traditional outdoor air conditioners often involve heavy components and energy-consuming behaviors during scene switching. The Yuuye Portable Air Conditioner utilizes a modular approach, allowing users to detach the upper and lower modules with a simple ‘release and lift’ mechanism. This innovative design turns scene switching from a physically demanding task into a comfortable and hassle-free experience.

Mosquito Prevention

Thick exhaust pipes in traditional outdoor air conditioners can create gaps between the tent and the pipes, allowing mosquitoes to enter. The Yuuye Portable Air Conditioner eliminates this issue with an independent exhaust block, ensuring a mosquito-free outdoor experience.

Space Efficiency

The large volume of traditional outdoor air conditioners often occupies significant space in the trunk. The modular design of the Yuuye Portable Air Conditioner allows for efficient use of space, making it more practical and convenient for transportation.

Operation Mode

The Yuuye Portable Air Conditioner operates by taking in indoor heat, processing it through the refrigeration module for rapid cooling and strong temperature control, and then releasing the hot air outside through the exhaust module. This efficient process ensures a constant and comfortable cooling experience in outdoor settings. However, the battery life is unknown but I’m sure the designers would’ve taken care of it.

Yuuye Portable Air Conditioner is a game-changer for those living in hot climates, offering a portable solution to enjoy the outdoors without sacrificing comfort. Its innovative design, user-friendly features, and modular approach make it a valuable addition to the arsenal of anyone looking to beat the heat in style.

The post Portable Air Conditioner Lets You Enjoy The Outdoors Even During Harsh Summers first appeared on Yanko Design.