Tag Archives: Grip

This origami-inspired Apple MagSafe grip stand folds out of your way when you don’t need it

Posted on by

Today’s smartphones come with large screens to give space for more content, stylish designs that make them stand out, and price tags that can sometimes make you want to cry. All of these translate to devices that can accidentally fall or slip from our hands, crashing on the floor, and sending us into a panic. In response to protective cases that add bulk and remove elegance from phones, accessories like grips and rings have come up to help avoid accidents while minimizing their negative visual impact. Unfortunately, these solutions ironically make the situation worse because of their awkward design. What we need is an accessory that gives plenty of confidence when holding a phone, has enough features to make it worth its price, and still leaves your phone looking posh all the time. Fortunately, there is a product that is able to meet all three, thanks to the Japanese art of paper folding.

Designer: Marcy Arimoto

Click Here to Buy Now: $40 $45 (10% off at checkout). Hurry, Apple Event sales end in 24 hours!

Creating a three-dimensional object from a flat sheet of paper has enchanted people around the world for centuries. Taking inspiration from this ancient art, designs across many industries try to do the reverse, creating a structure that is able to fold flat and vice versa without the hassle of disassembly and reassembly. It’s a technique that saves space and reduces unnecessary parts, and it’s put to good use in the beak mag grip stand for iPhones.

Stand

At first glance, this accessory looks nothing more than a thin, card-sized block that sticks to the back of the phone. And exactly because of how thin it is, you can easily slip your phone into your pocket without worrying about the beak mag snagging on anything or making an awkward protrusion. It won’t separate from your phone either, no matter how much you jump or how much it juggles inside.

Attach

The strong MagSafe connection can handle a load of 500g, and it’s even strong enough to actually keep the phone up when you stick it to a refrigerator, a magnetic mount, or even a car door.

Grip

Of course, the real value of this grip stand is revealed when you lift up its top and pinch its two sides together. It might look like a simple stand, but that hole in the middle becomes a gateway for your finger, allowing you to hold the phone securely with comfort and confidence. And since it’s using magnets instead of adhesives, you can easily set it up for vertical or horizontal positions. And when you’re ready to get going again, simply fold the grip down again to have it virtually disappear.

beak mag isn’t just functional, though. It is also durable and, more importantly, aesthetic. The water-resistant cover dries up quickly so you won’t be left with a gross feeling if and when accidents occur. The material is also a pleasure to touch, and the grip stand’s sharp looks fit the iPhone’s own premium appearance perfectly. With this origami-inspired MagSafe-compatible grip stand, you can forget about those awkward and unflattering rings and stands, and hold your iPhone with confidence, both for its safety as well as its style.

Click Here to Buy Now: $40 $45 (10% off at checkout). Hurry, Apple Event sales end in 24 hours!

The post This origami-inspired Apple MagSafe grip stand folds out of your way when you don’t need it first appeared on Yanko Design.

Yamaha Design Lab The Gripper lets you exercise your fingers like a saxophone player

Posted on by

Yamaha is a brand that evokes two different images depending on who you ask. Some might know it best for its musical instruments and audio equipment, while motorists might be more familiar with its motorcycles. Although they seem to have nothing in common other than their name, they do share a common passion for well-designed products. There are many when the two companies come together to put pool their creative minds and come up with designs that showcase their shared passions and visions. This hand grip concept is one such example, combining expertise in musical instruments and metalwork to create an odd-looking hand exercising tool that you might wish you could buy someday.

Designer: Yamaha Design Laboratory

A hand gripper is definitely an odd choice for a product from both Yamaha companies, even if it’s just a concept. Then again, whether you’re playing musical instruments or driving a motorcycle, you need to have dexterous hands. Regularly exercising them is one way of maintaining or building up hand and wrist strength, and hand grips like these are one of the most common ways to do that.

Of course, “The Gripper” is clearly not your typical hand grip. The most common hand grips are just two plastic or padded grips with a coiled metal in between for resistance, though there are more sophisticated ones that use buttons with springs for each finger. Yamaha Design Lab’s concept mixes these two types together in a rather eccentric way that makes The Gripper look more like a musical instrument than a tool.

There is a typical palm grip, though it is made of natural sculpted wood that gives it a warm and soft touch in contrast to plastic or rubber. It contrasts with the cold metal pipes that make up the actual grip that branches out into five different paths, one for each finger, including the thumb. Rather than simple buttons, however, each “key” is a concave metal disc that lets your finger rest on it securely without fear of slipping off. This gives the finger grips an unusual aesthetic that makes them look like the same keys on a saxophone or trumpet. In fact, you can operate each key separately like on those instruments, letting you move and exercise each finger differently.

There is also a mechanism that lets you adjust the length of each pipe to accommodate different finger lengths. This rather unusual design helps increase the tension for better exercise while also offering a unique feeling of delicate manipulation for every finger. In other words, it creates a whole new experience that provides stress relief and exercise in an aesthetically pleasing and interesting package. Unfortunately, The Gripper is fated to remain a concept unless Yamaha changes its mind after receiving strong demand for such a quirky design.

The post Yamaha Design Lab The Gripper lets you exercise your fingers like a saxophone player first appeared on Yanko Design.

A MagSafe-compatible wallet, grip, and stand in a super-slim profile

Posted on by

You’ll never have to stick anything on the back of your phone because this single magical wallet has everything you need and then some.

Despite all the hard work that manufacturers put into making the back of their phones look exquisite, owners still end up sticking things on the back of their devices. No, we’re not talking about skins or cases that at least add some value to the phone, whether visual or protective, but the rings, stands, and other functional accessories that sadly mar the otherwise pristine appearance of a smartphone’s rears. Some even stick a thin wallet there for cards, which brings a whole different set of problems. The worst part is that you have to choose between these different accessories because none are able to deliver all their desired functions. That is until the Magcardgrip arrived on the scene as the one phone accessory to rule them all.

Designer: Brad Park of Momostick

Click Here to Buy Now: $25 $40 (40% off). Hurry, only 48 hours left!

The “Mag” in Magcardgrip doesn’t stand for “magic,” but it could very well have been. It instead refers to Apple’s revived MagSafe technology on the iPhone, using magnets to easily attach and detach not just wireless chargers but also thin card wallets. The problem with these wallets, including Apple’s first-party flavor, is that you have to remove them in order to use the iPhone’s wireless charging capability. Plus, they also tend to slip or peel off when you’re pulling the phone out of your pocket.

In contrast, Magcardgrip uses tried and tested non-destructive adhesive to stick to the back of the phone, which creates a more stable hold. That is important considering the accessory also functions as a stand and a grip that lets you swing around your phone without worry.

Unlike typical MagSafe wallets, you can use wireless charging without having to remove the wallet, thanks to its bi-fold design. Simply flip the wallet open and connect the phone to the wireless charger or dock of your choice, including MagSafe chargers, of course. The wallet can be opened at a 90-degree angle that will let you prop up the phone in landscape orientation.

The Magcardgrip has yet another trick, one that it inherits from the same people who created the pioneering pop-out grip, the Momostick. The flexible yet strong grip sits flush against the wallet and lets you easily slide and lock it into place to form a hook-shaped opening for your finger. Alternatively, it can also be used as a stand for whatever orientation you prefer. No matter how many times you bend it, the grip will still be able to retain its flat shape when you don’t need it.

The wallet itself is made from high-quality materials, like PU leather on the outer flap that holds the cards, microfiber on the inner flap to protect your cards, and real leather for the grip to give it a luxurious finish. The wallet has room for two cards that can easily be used with tap-to-pay systems. Just flip the flap open, and that’s it! Even when folded, the wallet is so slim that it’s barely thicker than a phone’s camera bump. You’ll barely notice it’s there when lying flat on a desk, and you’ll appreciate the added grip it offers when in your hand.

The best part is that, despite the name, the Magcardgrip isn’t just exclusively for iPhones. It can work with any phone that uses the Qi wireless charging standard and has enough space on its back for a 95 x 65 mm rectangle. At only $19 a pop and with different designs to choose from, the Magcardgrip could very well be the only accessory you’ll ever need to stick on the back of your phone.

Click Here to Buy Now: $25 $40 (40% off). Hurry, only 48 hours left!

The post A MagSafe-compatible wallet, grip, and stand in a super-slim profile first appeared on Yanko Design.

The ultimate iPhone wallet accessory that Apple wishes it designed

Posted on by

Remember when Apple brought back the MagSafe in 2020? Sounded like a great idea, right? A magnetic ring on the back of your iPhone that could attach a wireless charger, or a wallet… but not both. While MagSafe is a pretty cool feature, it does have its limitations. The wireless charger, for starters, can’t attach to the phone if there’s a thick case, or a wallet accessory already mounted. The wallet itself is a pretty pricey $59 add-on that holds up to 3 cards and is notorious for slipping off your iPhone when you try sliding it into or out of your pocket. The Magcardgrip, however, answers both those problems and some more. A sleek little accouterment for your iPhone, the Magcardgrip is a wallet, stand, and iPhone grip all wrapped in one. It sits flat on the back of your device, holds 2 payment or ID cards (and even supports tap-to-pay), and has a fold-out grip that doubles as a stand for your iPhone. Its most interesting feature though? The fact that it also happens to support MagSafe charging. The Magcardgrip’s zero-compromise design lets you wirelessly charge your iPhone WITH the wallet still attached… a feature that Apple probably wishes it had thought of first.

Designer: Brad Park of Momostick

Click Here to Buy Now: $19 $40 (53% off). Hurry, only 43/50 left!

The Magcardgrip’s design addresses a lot of problems, notably with hardly any (if none) caveats or compromises in the process. The 7mm thin accessory attaches using an adhesive to the back of your phone. The non-destructive adhesive back offers a stronger bond than Apple’s MagSafe feature, and the Magcardgrip’s slim profile allows you to easily slide your phone in and out of your pocket without worrying about the accessory moving around, changing orientation, or slipping off the back of your phone.

The Magcardgrip has a bifold-inspired design that really reinforces its creator’s zero-compromise vision. The accessory sits perpetually on the back of your phone in its closed format, and opens upwards to reveal the card slots on its outer flap. The inner flap (which stays stuck to your phone), however, is a sheet of pleater (PU Leather) that’s slim enough to let you attach a MagSafe charger, or any wireless charger for that matter. This gives the Magcardgrip a rather simple and intuitive two-step usage process. The wallet stays closed at most times, sitting on the back of your phone in its slim avatar. However, to access the wallet, or to wirelessly charge your phone, pop the Magcardgrip open and you’ve got yourself the best of all worlds.

The wallet part of the Magcardgrip holds two cards, allowing you to easily access them by flipping the wallet open, or even letting you tap-to-pay for a more convenient approach. The inside of the wallet additionally comes outfitted with microfiber, protecting your cards from wear and tear.

The Magcardgrip’s ability to let you still use wireless chargers is perhaps its most game-changing feature. In hindsight, it’s rather simple, but to the designer’s credit, it’s a feature that hasn’t quite occurred to anyone yet. Just flip the Magcardgrip open and it now lets you easily charge your phone wirelessly. The Magcardgrip still has an inner flap that stays affixed to your phone, but it’s calibrated to be thin enough to easily allow wireless charge to pass through, and even support the iPhone’s MagSafe feature.

Additionally, the Magcardgrip can even be used with wireless charging car mounts, just by flipping its outer wallet flap upwards. Simple? Check. Elegant? Check.

The third feature of the Magcardgrip actually dates back to 2019. The Magcardgrip comes from the folks behind the Momostick, who pioneered the sleek pop-out grip – a feature that also finds itself on the Magcardgrip. The pop-out grip sits on the outside of the Magcardgrip, blending right into its form, yet standing out through its color combinations and leather construction. To use the grip, just pop it right out and lock it in place, and you’ve now got a nifty loop to slide your finger into, letting you securely hold your phone while you use it. The pop-out grip’s unique selling point back in 2019 was that it was just as functional as the Pop Socket without the weight and thickness… a feature that it proudly wears on its sleeve even today.

Of all the Magcardgrip’s features, its most underrated one is probably the fact that it’s brand agnostic. You don’t NEED to use the Magcardgrip with an iPhone, since it pretty much mounts on any smartphone you’ve got (or even your smartphone case) as long as the phone doesn’t have a fingerprint sensor on the back. The Magcardgrip measures 95mm vertically, 65mm horizontally, and just 7mm in thickness, making it about as thin as three quarters stacked one above another. For all the features it packs, it also weighs a mere 37 grams, so you won’t really ever notice its presence on the back of your phone… until you need it. The Magcardgrip is available in a range of colors, from subtle to funky, depending on what your sense of style is. A single Magcardgrip costs $19 USD and you can back the project on Kickstarter to place your order.

Click Here to Buy Now: $19 $40 (53% off). Hurry, only 43/50 left!

The post The ultimate iPhone wallet accessory that Apple wishes it designed first appeared on Yanko Design.

Camera Bug is a small but smart solution to a big but common camera problem

Posted on by

Sometimes, the best solutions are the simplest ones, like an ingenious grip that makes you wonder why no one thought about it until now.

Smartphones have become the go-to solution for many shutterbugs when it comes to capturing memories at a moment’s notice. It’s not exactly because they surpass dedicated cameras, but mostly because it’s almost always with you and convenient to use compared to a bulky DSLR, for example. More dedicated photographers, however, will almost always have their cameras at hand, and this simple yet beautiful grip will make it more convenient to catch the camera bug as well.

Designer: Kevin Champion

There are definitely many ways to carry a big camera, but the most common one happens to also be the least convenient. A neck strap doesn’t exactly lend itself to quickly snapping a photo and then quickly moving on to the next target. Even a wrist strap isn’t as ergonomic, straining your wrists while keeping your fingers away from their most convenient positions.

The Camera Bug, in contrast, is designed so that your hand and finger are always where they should be, right over the grip and on top of the buttons. Even when simply holding the camera off to the side in your hand, the camera doesn’t dangle precariously or swing from side to side. Whether you’re resting your camera hand or already in the zone, the grip is designed to feel natural and look natural as well.

Despite the simple design, the Camera Bug is actually made of three parts, each carefully designed and engineered with meticulous attention to detail. The finger pad uses premium Italian vegetable tanned leather that gives the grip a visual personality that will be unique to each owner. Leather ages beautifully and in almost random ways, and it will also mold itself over time to the unique shape of your fingers.

Flanking the finger pad is the US-made Paracord 550 that ties it all together and a new LockBall that was specifically engineered to provide confidence in securing the whole ensemble. It might look like a trivial product that you may have seen in similar accessories like smartphone rings, but it is the mark of good product design when the theory blends invisibly with a good user experience and a beautiful appearance.

The post Camera Bug is a small but smart solution to a big but common camera problem first appeared on Yanko Design.

PopGrip JumpStart is a power bank and phone grip in one

Posted on by

Did you know that your phone can get tired too? Well, tired is not exactly the correct word but the mobile device you use every day for hours needs to be protected from possible harm and recharged after a long day. But for those times you forget and need to go early in the day, you may just charge it in the car or maybe get this PopGripJumpStart.

Don’t be confused, as this is both a battery bank and a phone grip—a two-in-one accessory that can make your life easier. Its name perfectly describes what it can do— act as a grip for the phone and jumpstart when it needs power. It can charge your smartphone while you scroll through your social media apps, check email, or text.

Designer: PopSockets

PopGrip JumpStart Details

The PopGrip JumpStart offers a secure grip and allows you to hold the phone and use it with just one hand. It lets you have the peace of mind that your phone won’t fall off your hand. You can also use it as a phone stand when you want to watch your favorite shows or movies with other PopSockets accessories.

The PopGrip JumpStart from PopSockets has a 2200mAh battery capacity to charge your phone up to 50% with either a Lightning Cable or a USB-C. You will see the cable popping out when you need to use it. The cord is wired around the battery pack and can be hidden when not in use.

This thing works with a standard PopSocket mount, even with its larger size. The accessory appears to be uncomfortable to hold, but the size is perfect for most phones available today. It’s still compact and slim and is able to boost charging time even when you’re on the go.

This portable power bank is made for the PopSockets platforms. It’s an ideal solution for those always on the go and who are running low on battery. Since the PopGrip JumpStart is compatible with the Popsockets platform, it is easily swappable with different components for unique styling.

PopGrip JumpStart Features

This charging grip is affordable for only $35. It’s already useful as a phone grip, but it becomes more valuable as a battery pack. It may only power up your battery up to half of its capacity, but it’s enough to give you a few more hours of mobile use. Of course, you need to juice up JumpStart’s battery itself, so make sure you don’t forget to charge it.

PopGrip JumpStart Release

The post PopGrip JumpStart is a power bank and phone grip in one first appeared on Yanko Design.

Rock Climbing Mug Replaces Handle with Climbing Hold

Posted on by

Because why shouldn’t I spill my coffee all over myself first thing in the morning, this is the Rock Climbing mug made and sold by Climbergoods on Amazon (affiliate link). Each 12-ounce ceramic mug is handmade and features an authentic climbing hold in lieu of a handle. I can already feel myself trying to blot coffee out of my work khakis.

Available with a variety of different climbing hold colors, the mug is the perfect way to let coworkers know you’re a rock climber, without actually having to say you’re a rock climber, or chalking your hands and trying to ascend the side of the building on your lunch break.

I’ll be honest, I’m not confident enough in my grip strength to think I’ll be able to use this mug without shattering it on the floor. I can barely hold a regular mug with a handle, and if it wasn’t so frowned upon I’d drink my coffee out of one of those red beer helmets you see crazy people wearing at sporting events.

MIT’s sensor-packed glove helps AI identify objects by touch

Posted on by
Researchers have spent years trying to teach robots how to grip different objects without crushing or dropping them. They could be one step closer, thanks to this low-cost, sensor-packed glove. In a paper published in Nature, a team of MIT scientists...

Save Yourself from Selfie Butterfingers With This Phone Grip

Posted on by

It’s not the iPhone, it’s you. Sure, those rounded corners and smooth back might make it a little easier to drop your phone but ultimately your butterfingers are to blame for a history of cracked screens and scraped edges. Put that all in the past with the ShutterGrip Smartphone Camera Controller.

The ShutterGrip is compatible with most brands of phones and snaps on easily giving you a better grip when you go to take photos. Even if you’re not into selfies, ShutterGrip comes with a remote control so you can set the phone up and take better-posed group photos. You won’t even have to remove your case — ShutterGrip slips on regardless.

The ShutterGrip typically retails for $40 but you can take 25% off when you pre-order today for $29.99 in the Technabob Shop.

More Awesome Stuff for You to Click On:

Magnetic Cable Packs Lightning, MicroUSB and USB-C Tips
This Flexible Selfie Stick Will Take Your Selfie Game to Another Level
Get a Grip with This Handy Smartphone Camera Controller
This iPhone Case Doubles as a Retro Gaming Handheld
This Lens Kit Will Give Your Smartphone Camera a Huge Upgrade